Staff Reporter
uMngeni Mayor Chris Pappas on Sunday welcomed the arrest of another suspect in the murder of DA councillor Nhlalayenza Ndlovu, but said concerns remained over a lack of “transparency” and cooperation by police with the Ndlovu family.
The arrest, announced by police on Saturday, brings to five the number of suspects arrested and charged in connection with Ndlovu’s 2023 murder.
“The DA in KwaZulu-Natal has just learnt that there’s been an arrest of another person involved in the murder of our colleague and our friend Councillor Nhlalayenza Ndlovu,” Pappas said.
“Of course, when there are new developments in this case that lead to an arrest and us getting closer to justice, we are pleased by this.”
Pappas said, however, that the party remained concerned about the way police were communicating with Ndlovu’s family.
“We are still concerned that the police are not being completely transparent and are not completely cooperative with the family,” he said.
“However, we do hope, and we do pray that we are getting closer to finalisation of this case; justice must be done.”
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the 44-year-old suspect was arrested in the Mpophomeni area on Saturday and was expected to appear in the Howick Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Ndlovu, who was the DA’s chief whip in the uMngeni Local Municipality, was gunned at his home in Mpophomeni on 5 December 2023, in front of his wife and children.
He had previously served as a proportional representation councillor in the Mpofana Local Municipality before being elected to the uMngeni council in the November 2021 local government elections
The KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team’s investigation identified Chief Simphiwe Zuma of Nxamalala in Impendle as the alleged mastermind who issued the order for Ndlovu to be killed. Zuma is Ndlovu’s uncle.
Zuma remains in custody after being denied bail twice, alongside co-accused Thobani Masobho Hlongwa, an alleged hitman in the case.
Two other accused, Khayelihle Shabalala and Deon Mathonsi, have already entered guilty pleas. Shabalala has been identified as the alleged gunman who was at the scene when Ndlovu was shot, while Mathonsi is accused of helping to coordinate the killing from prison.
“The KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team remains resolute in its pursuit of those who orchestrate and execute political killings,” Mathe said.
“Investigations into the matter remain ongoing, and police will continue to pursue all outstanding leads to ensure that every person found to have played a role in this murder is brought before the courts.”
Pappas said the DA would continue following the court proceedings and investigation with its lawyers.
“We cannot tolerate political killings. We cannot tolerate our councillors being murdered, and we do hope that this comes to a quick finalisation,” he said.
“We’ll continue to watch this case with our lawyers to ensure that there is accountability and that there is justice for the family.”
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