Sindiso Magaqa murder: State alleges former uMzimkhulu municipal manager ordered the hit

MZIMKHULU - The prosecution in the murder case of African National Congress (ANC) councillor Sindiso Magaqa in KwaZulu-Natal alleges that the former municipal manager linked to his killing ordered the hit through his cousin.

Zweliphansi Sikhosana is back in the uMzimkhulu Magistrates Court to apply for bail.

He was arrested by the police’s political task team in July, in connection to the 2017 murder of Magaqa, who was a councillor at the uMzimkhulu Local Municipality at the time.

The State alleges that Sikhosana’s cousin, Mbulelo Mpofana, who is also an accused in the matter, organised the hitmen to kill Magaqa.

State prosecutor Advocate Lawrence Gcaba led evidence from a witness statement.

“He is the cousin of one of the people who asked that we do the job for them of killing a person at uMzimkhulu. Mpofana tells them that one of the people who approached and get the hitmen is his cousin. And you are the cousin of Mpofana, correct?”

He told the court that the witness implicated both Sikhosana and the former mayor, Mluleki Ndobe, who has since died.

“He responded that his cousin is known by the name of Rambo Sikhosana, who is the UMzimkhulu city manager, powerful and influential in that municipality, and the other one is the friend of ‘Rambo’ by the name of Mluleki Ndobe, who is the mayor - these are the words of Mpofana to these people who knew nothing about you.”