Justice has finally been served for the family of slain ANC Maphumulo Ward 13 councillor Zakhele Khuzwayo.

Last Friday the Ntuzuma Regional Court handed down a life sentence to 25-year-old Phathesakhe Thuthukani Ngiba for Khuzwayo’s brutal murder in September 2022.

Khuzwayo, a councillor in the Maphumulo municipality, was ambushed and gunned down near the Nothweni River.

He had stopped along a gravel road to speak to an acquaintance when another vehicle pulled up. An unidentified man stepped out and opened fire on Khuzwayo’s car, fatally wounding him before fleeing the scene. An eyewitness escaped on foot to seek help.

The breakthrough in the case came when police investigators lifted Ngiba’s fingerprints from the crime scene.

Armed with forensic evidence and the eyewitness’ testimony, state prosecutor Advocate Elvis Gcweka secured a conviction.

Ngiba was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, 10 years for unlawful possession of a firearm, two years for unlawful possession of ammunition and an additional 12 years for firearm-related charges. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

A moving statement, compiled with the help of court preparation officer Thandeka Nadi Mofokeng, was submitted by Khuzwayo’s widow.

She described the immense toll the murder had taken on their family, not only the pain of losing a husband, but also the emotional strain of being falsely suspected by relatives of involvement in his death.

She portrayed Khuzwayo as a responsible and loving man and said his death had left her and their children struggling to cope.

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