Court hears details about brutal murder of KwaDukuza traffic officer

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The Durban High Court has heard details that a traffic officer from KwaDukuza was shot four times in the head on the day he was killed.

In November 2024, Mariemuthoo Marumugam was killed while responding to a hostage situation that was unfolding inside a taxi on the N2 highway along KwaZulu-Natal’s north coast.

The man on trial for the murder, Philakahle Dladla, appeared before court on Thursday, where judgement on the case began.

A number of road traffic officers, who worked with Marumugam, attended court proceedings in numbers, dressed in full uniform.

They were joined by the deceased’s family and relatives as they listened to the judgement.

For the first time, some of his colleagues learnt about the brutal manner the in which victim was killed.

The judge told the court that the superintendent’s body had four gunshot wounds in the head and one to the chest.

His brother, Bafi Marumugam, said this still hurts for the family.

“It did bring back memories - it was a train smash for us. It was hard going through that details of what transpired that day.”

The matter will resume on Friday for continuation of judgement.

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