Two men convicted of murder in the case of slain lecturer

IT WAS a bitter-sweet moment for the family of slain lecturer Chanlall Dwarika, after two men were found guilty of his murder in the Durban High Court on Wednesday. 

Thobani Mhlongo, 23, and Kwanele Makhaye, 29, together with Siyabonga Mahaye, 35, were also found guilty for kidnapping and robbery with aggravating circumstances. 

Mahaye was not charged with murder.

A fourth person, Sihle Mkhize, 23, was found not guilty on all three charges. 

According to the indictment’s summary of substantial facts, the State, represented by senior advocate Krishen Shah, said the 63-year-old electrical engineering lecturer at the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), owned a house in Maynard Road, Sea Cow Lake. 

He said Dwarika resided at another house with his wife in Verulam. 

Shah said Dwarika was in the process of renovating the property as he intended on selling it to “Pastor Miya”. 

He said the renovations were being thwarted as the material bought were being continuously stolen. 

Shah said sometime during 2022, at the suggestion of Miya, Mhlongo, Makhaye, and Mahaye were allowed to stay at the property on condition that they keep the house secure and assist with the renovations pending the sale of the house. 

“In terms of this loose agreement, the assailants would not pay rent and the deceased would only pay them for renovations done and some spending money on a casual basis.”

Shah said despite the three men residing at the property, the theft continued. 

He said Dwarika arrived and “ejected them from his property" on May 26, 2023.

Shah said on May 28, Dwarika visited the property driving his black Honda SUV to effect certain repairs and install a security gate to secure the property. 

He said Dwarika was accosted by the three men, who forced him into the rear seat of his vehicle and drove off with him. 

Shah said Dwarika was forced to hand over his ATM card and pin code. He said the three men used his card to withdraw cash and make purchases at various places. 

He said Mahaye retained Dwarika’s card and parted ways with the other two men. 

Shah said at some stage thereafter Mkhize joined Mhlongo and Makhaye, who held Dwarika captive in his vehicle. 

“During this time further demands for monies were made of Dwarika and purchases made with his banking facilities. At some stage that night, they drove to a place in Inanda and they forced the deceased into a bushy area where he was forced to the ground and his throat was slit. They thereafter fled the area and the deceased’s vehicle was subsequently disposed of by burning.”

Dwarika’s body was found six days later on June 3.

According to the post-mortem, his cause of death was determined as “slashing injury to the neck (partial decapitation)". 

During the trial, various witnesses testified for the State. 

Judge Khosi Hadebe, in handing down her judgment, said the State had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. 

Ayuushi Dwarika-Rajbansi, Dwarika’s daughter, said: “We believe the judgment is fair. It was also because of the accused four’s (Mkhize) help that we were able to find my dad after so many days. We believe he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. We are actually grateful to him. 

“Having gone through the trial over the last year was quite draining and heartbreaking, especially having to hear what my father endured. There is not a day that we don’t think about him and it is very difficult. However, this judgment gives us some comfort, especially knowing that the perpetrators will not go without due punishment,” she said.

Sentencing is expected today. 

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