Loyiso Nkohla Mabandla’s Killer Gets 30-Year Sentence for Murder

Zukisa Tshabile has been sentenced to an effective 30 years in prison for the murder of community activist Loyiso Nkohla Mabandla, along with a series of other serious offences, according to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The Western Cape High Court convicted Tshabile of murder, seven counts of attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and four firearm and ammunition offences. The convictions followed a plea and sentencing agreement with the state. The charges relate to Mabandla’s killing in April 2023 and an armed robbery at a Kraaifontein pub in July of that year. Although the court imposed sentences totalling 149 years, it ordered them to run concurrently with the 30-year term for murder. NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said that this resulted in an effective sentence of 30 years’ direct imprisonment. In his plea, Tshabile said Mabandla had been asked by Philippi residents to act as a social facilitator in discussions with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa after eviction notices were issued to people occupying the railway line. Mabandla was later formally recognised and included in a social compact, the account presented to court said. The dispute described in the plea involved a security contract at Philippi station. Mabandla and his wife had joined forces with Limise Protection Services after a contractor sought local security. According to the NPA, Mabandla later paid security workers himself after they allegedly went unpaid, despite the contractor having received money for the work. Mabandla called a community meeting on April 17, 2023, to discuss the workers’ unpaid wages and what should happen next. The plea agreement said the contractor approached other men, claiming he felt unsafe in Philippi and wanted Mabandla and his wife killed. Tshabile and other alleged gunmen were reportedly offered R20,000 each. The men travelled to the station, where the meeting was underway, and were shown Mabandla’s vehicle because they did not know him. They opened fire as he tried to flee, and he died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. Tshabile also admitted involvement in the separate armed robbery, the NPA said.