Sibusiso Duma

Case record: Sibusiso Duma

STATUS

Sibusiso Duma was sentenced to two life sentences plus 35 years in prison on November 14, 2007. He was later sentenced to six life sentences plus 104 years on August 16, 2009.

Characteristics

Sibusiso Duma was a serial killer who was violent and who took part in theft, kidnapping, rape and murder. He worked as a taxi driver and used his vehicle both to obtain his victims and as a weapon on occasion.

Background

Sibusiso Duma was described as a disorganized killer, with his reasoning, victimology and methodology changing almost from victim to victim. His activity was mostly around the town of Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal.

The offence

In an October 2007 crime spree, Duma drove and reversed a car over a man, killing him, before robbing him. He was sentenced to life in jail for this murder.

Duma kidnapped and raped a 17-year-old schoolgirl and left her for dead. She spent a night lying helpless in a cemetery with broken bones until she was found at first light. She spent three weeks in intensive care and two weeks in a general ward.

Duma drove over a 17-year-old schoolgirl he had kidnapped and raped, leaving her for dead; this conduct led to burns. Duma was sentenced to 15 years for attempting to murder her by reversing a stolen car into her and spinning a rear wheel against her, causing her burns.

Earlier that night, Duma shot dead two men and robbed them of the car which he used to kidnap the girl and her two friends. He received a life sentence for each of these two murders and 20 years’ jail for robbing them.

After kidnapping the girl and her two male companions who were shot and wounded but escaped, Duma took the group to a cemetery. Duma and an accomplice raped the girl at the cemetery.

Duma was also sentenced for kidnapping the girl and her two male companions who were shot and wounded, receiving three eight-year sentences for kidnapping.

Duma was further sentenced to life in jail for raping the teenager. He received another eight years for kidnapping and 20 years for robbing her.

Duma kidnapped, robbed, raped and murdered Pinetown teacher Noxolo Dlamini.

Duma raped, shot and murdered Hlengiwe Shangase. Duma waited near to her home before dragging her to a desolate area and raping her. He then shot her in the head at point blank range using the Norinco pistol he had stolen from Mqeku Zondi.

On October 14, 2007, Duma and an accomplice, Simphiwe Khesi, had been drinking at a local shebeen. Leaving a little after 19:00, the men realised that there would be no taxis available, so planned to hijack a vehicle in order to get home. Finding a suitable vehicle, Duma shot and killed Patricia Kippen, a First National Bank employee.

They abandoned the vehicle after the shooting brought attention from nearby residents. They then found another target and shot dead former Witness crime journalist Elaine Anderson.

On October 19, 2007, Duma raped, shot and murdered Hlengiwe Shangase.

The following day, Duma hijacked, shot and killed two men: Masizane Mtshatsha and Thamsanqua Mbindwane.

An hour later, driving in the hijacked VW Polo, Duma kidnapped three further victims: Tsepo Mhlongo, Linda Jali and a teenage girl. The two men robbed the victims, ordered them out of the vehicle, shot them and left them for dead.

Duma, with his accomplice Simphiwe Khesi, took the young girl to Azalea Cemetery where they gang raped her. Duma then drove the stolen car over the girl multiple times in order to kill her.

On September 9, 2007, Duma used his minibus taxi to run over and kill a Department of Education security guard, Mqeku Zondi. Duma agreed to drive Mr Zondi to his residence for an agreed fee. Mlungisi Bhengu, the conductor of Duma’s taxi, testified that Zondi reneged on paying the fare for some of the journey, after which “Duma drove into the old man, ran over him with the wheels of the taxi and then reversed over his body again”. Duma then alighted from his taxi and robbed the victim of his remaining money and a 9mm Norinco pistol.

Investigation

No separate investigation details were provided beyond testimony in court.

Arrest

No arrest information was provided.

Trial

Duma was originally charged, convicted and sentenced along with Simphiwe Khesi for the murders of Kippen and Anderson on November 14, 2007.

Duma did not testify during his trial.

When Duma and Khesi were sentenced, both men laughed when sentenced saying, “They're dead now. What are they worrying about?”

Sentencing

November 14, 2007 sentencing

Judge President Vuka Tshabalala sentenced both men to 15 years for attempting to rob Anderson and sentenced Duma to 15 years for robbing Kippen and Khesi 20 years, in addition to the life sentences for murder.

At the time of this sentencing, both men laughed saying, “They're dead now. What are they worrying about?”

August 16, 2009 sentencing

On the 4th of August 2009, Duma was further charged in connection with his various other crimes.

On August 16, 2009, Acting Judge Kobus Booyens imposed a further six life sentences and prison terms totaling 104 years. Booyens said he intended that Duma should be permanently removed from society.

Booyens said he hoped the correctional services department would abide by his wish that 24-year-old Duma, a father of six children, should spend the rest of his life in jail. Booyens also said society needed to be protected from his sort.

Appeals

Booyens refused Duma's application for leave to appeal.

Outcome

In all, Duma was convicted of 16 crimes committed between September 9 and October 25 2007.

Aftermath

No additional aftermath information was provided beyond the sentencing and the refusal of leave to appeal.

Other details

Pietermaritzburg High Court sentenced Duma further on August 16, 2009, with the additional terms totaling 104 years. Duma was described as already serving two life sentences plus 35 years in jail at the time of the further sentencing.