The man accused of arranging the assassination of uMngeni Municipality DA councillor Nhlalayenza Ndlovu was already behind bars for another murder when he allegedly accepted R70 000 to plot the hit, the court heard during Inkosi Simphiwe Zuma’s bail application in Howick Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

According to The Witness, Ndlovu was gunned down in front of his wife and children at his home in Emashosheni near Mpophomeni in December 2023.

Co-accused linked to previous murder

The court heard that Zuma’s co-accused, Thabo Mathonsi Dion Chonco, also known as Gambushe, was approached to organise Ndlovu’s assassination. At the time, Chonco was in custody facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, linked to the January 2023 killing of Induna Qalokunye Zuma in Impendle.

Zuma, who is also facing those charges, was out on R25 000 bail, which the state now seeks to revoke.

Another accused, Induna Zwelithini Buthelezi, has since turned state witness under Section 204.

Bail and witness developments

According to an affidavit from investigating officer Sergeant Delani Chemane, R50 000 was initially agreed upon for the hit, but R70 000 was ultimately transferred to Buthelezi.

Chemane said Ndlovu had become a target after speaking out against illegal electricity connections in Emashosheni. He said Zuma ordered a hit on him as he ‘disrupted their criminal activities of selling electricity unlawfully’.

It was revealed in court that Ndlovu was also seen as a stumbling block in Zuma’s intention to sell sites in Emasosheni, where he was later barred by the Pietermaritzburg High Court following the tribal authority’s dispute with uMngeni Municipality over this land.

Motives for the hit

State Advocate Lawrence Gcaba, reading from Chemane’s affidavit, told the court that other suspects remain at large, including one of Zuma’s close associates, who was allegedly tasked with pointing out Ndlovu’s home.

“During the collection of evidence, we retrieved several voice recordings from Buthelezi’s phone. In one conversation, Buthelezi reported back to Zuma about how Ndlovu was shot and killed. In another, the two praised Gambushe for being a good hitman.”

Gcaba added that Ndlovu had arranged to meet Zuma in Impendle to discuss issues affecting Emashosheni, but Zuma and his co-conspirators allegedly decided instead that he should be killed.

Gambushe, however, objected to targeting Ndlovu en route to the meeting, saying it would point directly to them, which is why he was eventually murdered at his home.

Outside court, Ndlovu’s family said they were still reeling from the shocking details revealed in the proceedings.

Zuma’s bail application will continue next Monday.

Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.

Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.