Two Accused of Murdering Lenasia School Teacher Naadira Vanker Found Guilty

The two men accused of murdering Lenasia school teacher Naadira Vanker have been found guilty. 

Lucky Mshubi and Thabo Mambila appeared in the South Gauteng High Court on Thursday. 

The duo faced charges of murder, housebreaking, robbery, kidnapping, attempted extortion and defeating the ends of justice. 

Vanker was abducted from her home by the two men on 22 April last year. 

Investigations subsequently led the team to a shack in Phumlamqashi, Lenasia South, where Mshubi took the police to a shallow grave in the yard where Vanker was buried.

The State alleged that Mshubi planned the events that resulted in Vanker’s death, and upon realising that she was dead, he then dug a grave and buried her. 

The Star newspaper reports that in his confession, Mshubi explained that he kidnapped Vanker for revenge against her husband after he lost his job which he blamed the school teacher’s husband for. 

The paper further reports that Mambila confessed that Mshubi called him on the day Vanker was murdered and told him that he needed assistance to complete a job for which he would be paid R150 once it was done. 

Mashubi and Mambila are expected back in court on 18 February for sentencing.