KZN traditional leader linked to murder of DA councillor faces third murder charge

The KwaZulu-Natal traditional leader linked to the murder of DA Umngeni Local Municipality councillor Nhlalayenza Ndlovu has been charged in another case.

Simphiwe Eric Zuma now faces three counts of murder following further findings by the SAPS Political Killings Task Team, which is investigating politically motivated killings.

The task team has connected Zuma to the November 2022 murder of a man in the eMasosheni area of eMpophomeni, Howick. A well-placed source told EWN that Zuma was formally charged on Saturday.

“He has been charged, and this will be added to the roll when he appears in the Nhlalayenza Ndlovu case in Howick on Monday,” said the source.

EWN understands the case is part of 121 dockets returned to KwaZulu-Natal from Pretoria. The existence of these dockets was first revealed in July, when provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi disclosed that they had been left gathering dust in Pretoria.

Last week, police confirmed that the dockets - most of which involve murder cases - are now back in the province, with the politicalkillings task team resuming its investigations.

“The dockets are in KwaZulu-Natal. They’ve been handed back to the political killings task team, and the team has resumed its work,” SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said.

Zuma was first arrested by the unit in July for the murder of councillor Ndlovu, who was gunned down in December 2023 in eMpophomeni, in full view of his wife, Pretty Ndlovu and their children.

He was also charged in connection with the January 2023 murder of induna Qalokunye Zuma. Investigators have since linked the firearm used in that killing to the November 2022 murder.

Zuma is expected back in court on Monday for his bail application in the case relating to councillor Ndlovu’s killing. The state is opposing bail, citing several factors, including the discovery of a cellphone in Zuma’s possession while in custody.