The men responsible for the shooting of ANC member Siduduzo Magwaza in January 2021 were identified multiple times at the crime scene, according to corroborated testimony presented during the trial at the Durban High Court. State witnesses, including Thuli Mthembu, Sicelo Magwaza, and Sakhile Zungu, provided consistent and supportive accounts that helped establish the identities of the alleged murderers, Siphamandla Makhanya and Mxolisi Percy Hadebe.
Magwaza was shot on January 12, 2021, at his flat in Cornubia. After being transported to Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. In his final moments, Magwaza reportedly asked for Hadebe to be contacted, as the two were friends and acquaintances. They both served on a Project Steering Committee overseeing tender projects in Verulam, Ward 102, with Magwaza playing a significant role in the allocation of these projects.
Judge Sharmaine Balton, delivering her judgment, highlighted the consistency of the testimonies from State witnesses. Mthembu, Sicelo Magwaza, and Zungu all testified that Makhanya had stated he was in the area to kill politicians, though he did not specify which ones. “Zungu, Sicelo Magwaza, and Mthembu all said that Makhanya said he was there to kill politicians. The evidence of Magwaza and Thuli stands uncontradicted, they don’t have a reason to lie,” Judge Balton remarked.
Another crucial witness, Seun Annaldah, further supported the case by identifying Makhanya during an identification parade. Although he could not clearly identify Hadebe’s face, Annaldah was familiar with him and recognized his general build, as Hadebe often accompanied Magwaza. Annaldah also recalled that when Magwaza was shot, he claimed he would reveal the identity of his assailant, though he did not have the chance before passing away.
Fikile Radebe, another State witness, provided further evidence linking Makhanya to the crime. Radebe received a call informing her that Magwaza had been shot and overheard a conversation outside her home mentioning “Umshikashika,” referring to the mission completed at Ring Four, where Magwaza lived. The following day, she saw a man wearing the same clothes described—long pants and an Adidas top. Later, it was confirmed that the person was Makhanya. Additionally, cellphone records revealed that Makhanya made a long call to his girlfriend after the shooting, during which he referenced the mission.
Prior to the murder, Makhanya had confided in Mthembu, telling her that his job was to kill politicians, and after completing such tasks, the payment was deposited into his girlfriend’s bank account. Despite this compelling evidence, Makhanya attempted to discredit Mthembu’s testimony during cross-examination. He claimed that he and Mthembu were secretly romantically involved and fabricated a story about Mthembu asking Hadebe for money on his behalf. However, Judge Balton dismissed Makhanya’s claims, labeling them as an attempt to discredit Mthembu’s truthful evidence.
The trial continues to unfold, with these damning testimonies playing a key role in establishing the involvement of Makhanya and Hadebe in the tragic death of Siduduzo Magwaza.
