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A former security guard has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for murdering a man during South
Africa’s July 2021 civil unrest. The Scottburgh High Court found Joel Pillay guilty of killing Lindani
Mthethwa in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal.
According to prosecutors, Pillay shot Mthethwa while he was walking on Ireland Street. Natasha
Kara, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in KZN, stated that Pillay drove past
Mthethwa in a private security vehicle before shooting him “execution-style.”
While the minimum sentence for murder is life imprisonment, the court deviated due to Pillay being
a first-time offender at the time of the crime. Additionally, he was deemed unfit to possess a
firearm.
The NPA commended the collaborative efforts of the prosecution and stakeholders in securing
Pillay’s conviction during a period of widespread unrest and violence.