The South African Police Service’s (SAPS) political killings task team’s investigations led to a successful conviction in the murder case of slain Oscar Hlatshwayo.
Hlatshwayo, who served as the Alfred Duma Local Municipality’s executive director in the engineering and infrastructure services department, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Ladysmith in 2019.
The conviction comes as the task team has been making strides in KwaZulu-Natal.
FOUR CONVICTED FOR LIFE
All four accused were sentenced to life imprisonment by the Madadeni High Court on Wednesday, 6 August.
According to a police report, Nomaswazi Shabalala, a senior engineer at the Alfred Duma Local Municipality, is believed to have orchestrated the hit. Businessman Mondli Mabaso, allegedly linked to municipal tenders, was also convicted. Meanwhile, Mduduzi Njuza coordinated and supplied the firearms used in the killing, while Brown Ngcobo acted as the hitman.
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola welcomed the sentencing, saying he hopes the outcome brings some closure to Hlatshwayo’s family.
MORE ARRESTS IN POLITICALLY MOTIVATED KILLINGS
The task team recently arrested two additional suspects in connection with the murder of Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Nhlalayenza Ndlovu. He served as a councillor in the uMngeni Local Municipality, was shot and killed in December 2023 at his home in Mpophomeni, Howick.
The matter was postponed to Friday, 8 August, for a formal bail application. According to the DA, one of the suspects who appeared before the Howick Magistrate’s Court is Ndlovu’s uncle.
The party also said that the accused Inkosi Zuma is allegedly implicated in a separate case involving the murder of his cousin. In a statement, the party said that while it welcomes the arrests, it is concerned about possible political interference.
Meanwhile, the task team also arrested a former municipal manager of the Umzimkhulu Local Municipality in connection with the murder of the ANC Youth League secretary-general, Sindiso Magaqa. He was gunned down in 2017.
The accused, Zweliphansi Skhosana, appeared at the uMzimkhulu magistrate’s court. He is facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and possession of an unlicensed firearm. He was previously arrested in 2018 together with four others. The formal bail hearing case has been postponed to Thursday, 14 August.
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