A suspect believed to be the hitman accused of assassinating a Gauteng-based businessman and whistle-blower, was arrested in Mtubatuba last week.

Marumo Eric Phenya was ambushed and killed in a hail of bullets after dropping off his children at a school in Roodeport on 17 October 2022.

Before his death, Phenya and his wife had received threatening messages, and a case was opened. A few weeks later, Phenya was assassinated.

KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the suspect, Minenhle Mthembu, was wanted for conspiracy to commit murder and murder.

Phenya was a whistle-blower on corruption in a multi-million rand tender at a government department in Gauteng.

Collaboration between police in Gauteng and KZN – applauded by KZN police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi – led to Mthembu’s arrest.

Gauteng police informed KZN police that the suspect was in KZN, and police management immediately put together a multidisciplinary team.

On Friday, 6 February, the team gathered intelligence that the suspect was in hiding in Mtubatuba.

“An operation was set in motion, and on Tuesday, 10 February, a warrant of arrest was executed, and Mthembu was arrested.

“He appeared briefly in the Mtubatuba Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, before he was handed over to Gauteng investigating officers who have taken him [there], where he will face his crimes,” said Netshiunda.

“KZN is not a hiding place for criminals. We appeal to community members not to harbour criminals but tip off the police. This collaboration is a message to criminals that police will find you even if you run to a different province. There is nowhere to hide from the mighty arm of the law,” said Mkhwanazi.

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