Khosi Simphiwe Zuma, a member of the Amanxamalala clan from Impendle in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, and a close relative of former president Jacob Zuma, is accused of committing a third murder while incarcerated.
Zuma, 55, who has been detained in connection with several high-profile crimes, has been charged with Xolani Ndlovu-Ntombela’s murder once again. A third murder charge has been brought against the Zuma clan chief, who is currently in police prison for the 2023 murder of DA councillor Nhlalayenza Ndlovu and is still seeking bail on that case.
He had been charged with the murder of Induna Qalokunye Zuma, who was shot dead at his Impendle house in January 2023, and was on bail when he was caught in July for the murder of Ndlovu. In that case, Zuma was arrested again for another murder a few weeks after the Impendle magistrate’s court granted him bail in July.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the members of the political killings task team were praised by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi for making progress in the murder of Ndlovu-Ntombela. This comes after Zuma and his co-accused Thembelani Mbatha were charged by task force investigators with the murder of Ndlovu-Ntombela, who was shot dead at his Mpophomeni house in November 2022.
Mkhwanazi claims that the unlawful land sale in the Emasosheni area, which he was exposing, was the reason behind Ndlovu-Ntombela’s murder. The suspects, who are 23 and 55 years old, were already in custody; one is awaiting trial in a different murder case, while the other is requesting bail. The individuals were accused of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and unlawful firearm possession.
According to him, this case is one of 121 dockets that the province’s political killings task team just received back. On suspicion of murder, Zuma and Mbathamade a brief appearance at the Howickmagistrate’s court on Monday.
sub-editor: Thibela Thandeka
