Life sentences for Nalin Naidu’s killers

A SAPS officer, former detective Sifiso Nicholas Nkosi and his fiancée, Phumla Ethel Matseke, were sentenced to a term of life imprisonment in the Durban High Court last week for the kidnapping and murder of a woman, Nalin Naidu in 2014.

The pair had been found guilty of the kidnapping and pre-meditated murder of the Bellair mother who had been reported missing after last having been seen at a Malvern shopping centre.

A third perpetrator, Gonasagren Naidu, husband of the deceased, had previously committed suicide while awaiting trial.

According to Natasha Kara, regional spokesperson for the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Naidu wanted his wife killed and enlisted the assistance of his co-perpetrators, agreeing to pay them a sum of money in return.

The co-perpetrators then sought the help of three more people, Gcina Magwaza, Zwelakhe Maphumulo and Maria Sithole.

“On October 29, the perpetrators set their plan in motion and Naidu, Magwaza and Maphumulo kidnapped Nalin Naidu from the Bellair area and drove her to the Shongweni quarry where Nkosi, Magwaza and Maphumulo slit her throat and left her for dead,” said Kara.

“Naidu then paid them their money which they spent on clothing, food and alcohol.”

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The three were arrested shortly after the incident and Magwaza, Maphumulo and Sithole opted to plead guilty and testified in the State’s case against the other accused.

“In court, Senior State Advocate Denardo Macdonald used their evidence to link the accused and demonstrate their role in the death of the deceased. Advocate Macdonald led a significant amount of cellphone evidence, further implicating them in the crime,” said Kara.

“Each accused was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for kidnapping and life imprisonment for murder.”

Advocate welcomes sentence

Kara said the DPP KwaZulu-Natal, Adv Moipone Noko welcomed the sentence and conviction in this matter.

She said, “I hope this sentence will deter would-be offenders and put the spotlight on violence between spouses. Congratulations to all NPA employees who dealt with the matter.”

Nalin Naidu and her husband, also a former policeman, were well known in the business community and ran pharmacies together including Bellair Pharmacy.

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