Life in jail for worker who killed employer

As local Chinese nationals celebrated New Year yesterday, for one family, it was a time of sorrow.

Testifying in the Durban Regional Court yesterday, Zai Han spoke about his murdered friend Chen Hung, 20, who was stabbed 15 times at his curtain shop in Anton Lembede (Smith) Street two weeks ago by his employee, Siseko Hlanwanga, during a planned robbery.

Hlanwanga, 28, was yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment by magistrate Anand Maharaj, and a further 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances. The magistrate, who voiced concern over what he said was a dramatic increase in crime levels recently, said the sentences would not run concurrently.

Hlanwanga’s co-accused, Shiwayo Musawenkosi Shiwayo, 27, was also charged and sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Han, Hung’s friend, testified in aggravation of sentence and said Hung’s family lost their only son. Hung’s mother had returned to China, he said, and was battling to deal with the reality.

“They brought their son to South Africa alive but took his ashes back. Chen was friendly to everyone. I just can’t understand how this could happen,” he said.

“Today is the Chinese New Year and while everyone is celebrating there is one family in deep sorrow.”

The Durban Central crime task team arrested the two men in Pinetown two days after the murder and robbery on January 22.

Both men pleaded guilty in the Durban Regional Court on Monday, and yesterday, during sentencing, Maharaj described the murder as vicious, cold, callous and totally unnecessary.

According to their guilty plea, Hlanwanga had worked for Hung since September and, together with Shiwayo, planned to rob the shop.

The reason for the robbery, they said, was that they needed the money and would use it to support their children.

They had bought two toy guns and a pair of stockings to hide their identity.

On January 22, Shiwayo walked into the shop with the toy guns and stockings in a bag and hid behind the curtain display.

At closing time, Hlanwanga said he also hid behind the curtain display.

At the time, Hung, his aunt and his mother closing up. Hlanwanga said Hung walked towards the office, where the money was kept, and he approached his employer and pointed his toy gun at Hung’s head while Shiwayo approached the two women.

“(Hung) grabbed the gun and when he realised it was a toy gun, broke it. He hit me over the head with it. I then tried to hold (him) as he was punching and kicking me off,” said Hlanwanga.

Hung pulled off Hlanwanga’s stocking and recognised his employee.

“I pulled out the knife, which was in my pocket, and stabbed him several times. (Hung) tried to run away. He was bleeding. We left him and went to the women. We took them into the office and demanded the cash. Shiwayo had a hammer and used it to threaten them.”

They took about R30 400 and went to Hlanwanga’s house in Mayville where they divided it.

Maharaj said he could see from the cases he dealt with that crime levels had increased quite dramatically.

“The situation is sad as both men were employed and resorted to such a cowardly act. There are usually accused who are unemployed and destitute and resort to violence,” he said.

“From the photographic evidence, it was gruesome to see a young man lose his life in tragic circumstances and so unnecessarily.”

Outside court, Han said Hung’s aunt, Anna Wang, who was also in court, was too emotional too speak.

“In China, when someone attacks you with a knife the price they pay is life,” he said. “In South Africa, there is no death penalty. We have to accept life imprisonment.” - Daily News

noelene.barbeau@inl.co.za