A 52-year-old security company owner has been arrested in connection with the 2022 murder of a primary school teacher in KwaPata, Pietermaritzburg, The Witness reports.

Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said detectives from the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Organised Crime: Murder and Robbery Unit arrested Bruce Mhlongo, the owner of Njoms Security, yesterday.

Teacher shot multiple times in parked car

He said the arrest followed extensive investigations into the murder of Thabani Innocent Zondi (48), who was shot dead on February 18, 2022.

“On that afternoon, Zondi, who was an educator at Khethindlelenhle Primary School, was shot and killed inside his car in the KwaPata area.

“When police arrived at the scene, the deceased was found sitting on the driver’s seat of his car with multiple gunshot wounds, and at least 21 cartridges were found at the scene,” said Netshiunda.

He said the case was later referred to the provincial Murder and Robbery Unit, which obtained a warrant of arrest for Mhlongo. The warrant was executed yesterday.

Suspect linked to other serious crimes

“The suspect is also likely to be linked to other cases of murder, attempted murder and armed robbery which were committed in the areas of Plessislaer and Richmond from 2022,” said Netshiunda.

Police seized firearms belonging to Mhlongo’s company, which will undergo ballistic analysis.

Njoms Security, and Mhlongo himself, have a large social media following and regularly post videos of crime suspects being interrogated by the company’s security officers.

Mhlongo appeared briefly in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court today and was remanded in custody.

He is expected to appear again on October 30, 2025, when he will apply for bail.

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