Two men have been found guilty of the murder of Umhlanga resident Rakeshchand Shane Ganesh.
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TWO men have been convicted for the brutal murder of Umhlanga resident Rakeshchand Shane Ganesh, following a trial that revealed a chilling motive linked to unpaid rent.
Ganesh’s killers who are from the Efaya area in Dalton, killed him after he had demanded that one of them pay R750 in rent.
In November 2024, Ganesh was accosted, bound, and beaten in his room by Sihle Zondi, 25, and Hloniphani Mzila, 29.
The men then strangled Ganesh to death using a rope belt.
Following the murder, Zondi and Mzila stole Ganesh’s Mercedes-Benz, cellphone, and laptop before fleeing the scene. They were later apprehended in Pietermaritzburg.
Ganesh was residing rent-free at a Ridge Road property owned by his cousin, Mandy Kunigan. Also living on the property was Zuzeka Mbanjwa, who shares a child with Mzila, and who occupied a separate granny cottage.
Mbanjwa had previously lived in the main house but moved to the cottage when Ganesh took up residence there. Both Mbanjwa and Ganesh were allowed to live on the property without paying rent, provided they maintained the premises.
Mzila moved into the cottage on the property with Mbanjwa to be closer to his job. Upon discovering that Mbanjwa was now residing with Mzila, Ganesh called a meeting and insisted that the couple pay R750 in rent. During the trial, however, Mbanjwa stated that she was not happy to pay rent, noting that she had not been charged any rent while living in the main house.
Mzila, angered by Ganesh’s request, enlisted Zondi’s help to commit the murder.
During the trial, State prosecutor Advocate Denardo Macdonald called a mechanic, Msawenkosi Lembethe, to the stand.
Lembethe testified that Zondi and Mzila brought a Mercedes-Benz to him because it was overheating, with Zondi driving and Mzila in the passenger seat. Two days later, the duo returned, as the car had a gearbox issue.
Additionally, Mbanjwa testified that Mzila and Zondi had been in her cottage on the day of the murder, but were gone when she woke the following morning.
In his ruling, Judge Mahendra Chetty noted that the State's case relied on circumstantial evidence.
“Looking at the evidence in totality, it is clear that it is the accused who killed the deceased,” the judge said.
Additionally, he noted that Mzila testified that he had been home with his uncle and grandfather gathering herbs, while Zondi said he was home injecting his sister's goat, but neither of the two called these witnesses.
Judge Chetty said the duo's testimony was fabricated.
Chetty pointed out that while Mzila and Zondi were on the stand, they were unable to provide coherent answers during cross-examination.
“Zondi was evasive in his answer and steered clear of any questions that linked him with the property on Ridge Road. The only conclusion the court can draw from the evidence is that they killed the deceased, stole his items, and drove his car to Dalton.”
The matter will continue next week for sentencing proceedings.