Sidumisile Mabena
Mkhululi Ncube
The ex-soldier once shocked the nation with a chilling crime that made headlines and sparked outrage.
However, in a twist no one saw coming, Lisani Nleya slipped out of this world quietly, far from the spotlight that once followed his every move.
The man accused of brutally killing his parents in Empandeni in 2020 is now late and buried, with news of his death only surfacing years later.
Lisani Marcellus Nleya grabbed headlines after allegedly murdering his elderly parents, Nicholas Kini Nleya, 83, and Margaret Nleya, 78, both respected retired teachers and well-known figures in their community.
The killings were horrific.
He allegedly accused his parents of bewitching him and blamed them for his life struggles. In a fit of rage, he is said to have attacked them before setting their house on fire, leaving their bodies burnt beyond recognition.
After his arrest in January 2021, the case took a dramatic turn in the High Court when Justice Christopher Dube-Banda ordered a mental examination.
Two doctors assessed him and gave conflicting reports. One declared him fit to stand trial, the other said he was not. The court then called for a third psychiatric evaluation.
Lisani was sent to Mlondolozi Prison, a facility for inmates undergoing mental assessment, as the legal process dragged on.
And then… silence.
This reporter got the shock of his life while making a follow-up on the case.
“Kunjani Ncube? Lisani passed on in 2023 of natural causes while still undergoing psychiatric assessment. He died at Mlondolozi in Khami Prison,” said family spokesperson Mr Patrick Nyathi.
No headlines. No court finale. Just a quiet death behind prison walls.
Nyathi said Lisani was laid to rest at Luveve Cemetery, with the family coming together in a surprising show of unity and forgiveness.
All his siblings attended the burial, including those from outside the country.
“We gathered at the family home in Number Six and held a church service at Doves Funeral Parlour before burying him. In his cell, there were many Bibles, maybe a sign he had made peace with God,” said Nyathi.
In another twist, despite the gruesome past, the family has stepped up to care for Lisani’s two children, even funding their education.
His share of the family estate has also been passed on to them.
Meanwhile, his lawyer, Simbarashe Innocent Madzibire, was left stunned when told of his client’s death.
“No, you are lying. How? When did that happen?” he said in disbelief.
From a crime that rocked a community to a death that barely made a sound, Lisani Nleya’s story ends not with a bang, but a whisper.
A haunting reminder that some of the darkest chapters can close quietly, leaving more questions than answers.
