Alleged hitman and local inkosi arrested for whistleblower's murder in KZN Midlands
Arrests have been made in the murder case of whistleblower Xolani Ndlovu Ntombela, as the SAPS Political Killings Task Team investigates the 121 dockets that were returned to them.
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Arrests have been made in connection with a 2022 murder that was among the 121 dockets that are under investigation by the SAPS Political Killings Task Team in KwaZulu-Natal.
The dockets are at the centre of allegations made by KZN provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who claimed that suspended Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, interfered with police operations by ordering the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team.
Mkhwanazi claimed that on Mchunu’s orders, deputy national commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, who is also suspended, had the 121 case dockets removed from the task team, effectively halting investigations.
Following the suspension of Mchunu and a commission of inquiry set up by President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate the allegations of corruption made by Mkhwanazi against Mchunu and others, the dockets were returned to the task team by national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola.
According to a statement from the police, the task team has since made arrests in connection with the murder of Xolani Ndlovu Ntombela.
The police have arrested 55-year-old local chief and a 23-year-old hitman for the 2022 murder.
The police statement said that Ntombela was shot and killed in November 2022 at his homestead in the KZN Midlands.
“ A preliminary investigation by the task team has so far revealed that Ntombela was murdered for exposing the illegal sales of land in Emasosheni in the Mpophomeni area in Howick.”
The suspects are expected to appear before the Howick Magistrate’s Court on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder as well as possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
Masemola applauded the team for the swift arrests.
“The turnaround time and swift arrests following the return of the dockets is encouraging and it is a step in the right direction. We urge the team to continue with their investigations in the remaining 120 dockets. We need to solve all these cases because families need answers and closure”, said Masemola.
The task team's work since July 2018 has led to the conviction of more than 130 accused for murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.