The DA councillor was gunned down in front of his wife and children.
The Political Killings Task Team in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has arrested two more suspects, including a chief, in connection with the murder of DA Councillor Nhlalayenza Ndlovu.
Ndlovu was shot and killed in December 2023 at his home near Mpophomeni, in Howick.
The 56-year-old chief was arrested along with a 26-year-old suspect who allegedly coordinated the councillor’s murder from inside Pietermaritzburg Correctional Centre.
Suspects to appear in court
The pair faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Police national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe says the suspects are expected to appear before the Howick Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 31 July.
They join Thobani Masobho Hlongwa, 31, Khayelihle Shabalala, 31, and a traditional leader under the Nxamalala Tribal Authority, Zwelithini Buthelezi, 43.
Ndlovu’s murder
At the time of his death, Ndlovu was attached to the Umgeni Local Municipality at the time of his murder. He was shot more than 10 times in front of his wife and children outside their KwaZulu-Natal home.
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DA KZN provincial leader Francois Rodgers described Ndlovu as a humble servant who always put the needs of those he served above his own.
“He will be sorely missed,” Rodgers said.
Following the chief whip’s, the DA offered a R1 million reward for information that would lead to the conviction of the individuals who murdered him.
‘We had lost hope’
Speaking to the SABC in May, Ndlovu’s younger brother Sthembiso said the arrest of Buthelezi – after handing himself over – brought some hope to the family.
“We had lost hope that the case will progress, but now the way things are going, we believe that everything will go accordingly. We are happy that he handed himself over to the police, even though we don’t know his plan for that,” Sthembiso said.
“The death of our brother is still difficult to talk about. He left his wife and two children — one was just five months old. It’s an uphill for his wife, who is now a single parent.”
Watch the SABC interview with Sthembiso here:
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