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About Kwanele Mnikathi
Kwanele Mnikathi (2001 - 2008)
Brief overview:
Kwanele (7), and his mother's friend, Mildred Dlamini, a domestic worker on Colin Lucke's farm, were both stabbed to death (in the neck). KwaZulu-Natal High Court Judge Anton van Zyl sentenced Phumlani Luthuli (22) to life imprisonment and his 17-year-old accomplice to 27 years in prison. The non-parole period for the teenager was fixed at 18 years Their co-accused, Zwamokwakhe Nxumalo (22) and another teenager aged 16, were handed a suspended 24-month jail sentence after being convicted of theft only. They helped sell items stolen from the farmhouse. Luthuli was also sentenced to 20 years for aggravated robbery. On 12th December 2008 the four invaded the house of Colin Lucke's Pietermaritzburg farm Sunnycrest, who were away on holiday at the time. They stabbed Dlamini after forcing her to hand over the keys. When they saw Kwanele they killed him as well, fearing he would identify them. Van Zyl said the murders were heinous and unnecessary as the victims posed no threat to the gang. They were motivated by greed, and showed no remorse during the trial.
They loaded the Lucke family's possessions into Lucke's bakkie and went around selling them and enjoying the proceeds. The attackers returned to the farm to take more of the Lucke family's possessions while Dlamini still lay dead on the kitchen floor. They then made off with computer equipment, clothing, jewellery, a camera, a microwave oven, several firearms and ammunition.
Brief Biography:
- Other Victims/Family
- Funeral/Memorial
- The Farm/Smallholding
- The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)
Attack Details:
- Date and time of attack
- Weapons
- Items Stolen
- Investigative officer/SAPS Case No:
- Torture, Gratuitous violence
- Indications of Hate Crime? Threats etc.
Perpetrator details:
- Number and Descriptions
- Arrests
- Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
- Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
- Trial/Conviction
Additional Biographical Information:
Links to Media articles:
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Kwanele Mnikathi's Timeline
| 2001 |
2001
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| 2008 |
December 12, 2008
Age 7
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Pietermaritzburg, Indlovu DC, KZN, South Africa
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