The South African Police Service (SAPS) has welcomed the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court’s decision to sentence two men to life imprisonment for the murder of the uMngeni Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Nhlalayenza Ndlovu.
Hitman Khayelihle Shabalala and hitman coordinator Thabo Mathonsi were convicted after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and murder of Ndlovu in the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court, on Thursday.
Ndlovu was shot and killed in front of his wife and children at his home in Mpophomeni on 5 December 2023, in a killing that prompted an investigation by the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
Shabalala was identified as the alleged hitman, while Mathonsi was accused of helping coordinate the killing from prison.
The Acting National Commissioner of the SAPS, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, commended the PKTT for their investigative work, saying the sentence will help deter violence ahead of local government elections.
“We specifically commend the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team investigators for their commitment, professionalism and dedication to ensure that perpetrators behind political killings and violence are serving their time behind bars and ensure that justice is served.
“These members remained focused on their responsibility and mandate to investigate political killings and ensure that families and fellow politicians find closure,” Lieutenant General Dimpane said.
Last week, investigators arrested the fifth suspect, Mnelizi Zuma, in the Mpophomeni area for his alleged involvement in the murder of Ndlovu, and he is expected to appear before the Howick Magistrate’s Court on Friday for a formal bail application.
Once his bail application is finalised, he will join the other two suspects, mastermind Chief Simphiwe Zuma and spotter Thobani Hlongwa, in the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court for Indictments.
Zuma is allegedly the mastermind behind the murder of his nephew, Ndlovu. -SAnews.gov.za
