Political killings task team arrest alleged hitman and jailed mastermind for hit on DA councillor
Image: Facebook
One of the two men arrested in connection with a Democratic Alliance councillor is believed to have orchestrated the brutal murder from a prison cell.
On Wednesday, police confirmed the arrests of two men, aged 56 and 26, for Nhlalayenza Ndlovu's murder. Ndlovu was also the uMngeni Municipality's chief whip.
The arrests were effected by the South African Police Service (SAPS) political killings task team.
National police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, said the 26-year-old suspect allegedly coordinated the murder of the councillor whilst in Pietermaritzburg Prison. The older accused is a local Inkosi.
Ndlovu was gunned down at his home in Howick, in KwaZulu-Natal, in December 2023.
"The pair will appear before the Howick Magistrate's Court on Thursday, on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition," Mathe said.
They will join the other suspects who were previously arrested and charged with the murder.
According to the DA, an Induna at the Nxamalala Tribal Authority, Zwelithini Buthelezi, has also been named as another alleged mastermind behind Ndlovu's murder.
This is the second high-profile arrest by the political killings task team.
Earlier this week, Zweliphansi Stanley Skhosana has appeared in the Mzimkhulu Magistrates' Court in connection with the murder of former African National Congress (ANC) Youth League Secretary, Sindiso Magaqa.
IOL reported that the former senior uMzimkhulu municipality official was rearrested on Monday in Malvern, in Durban.
Last month, the political task team was thrust into the spotlight after KZN police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi claimed political interference in the team in some cases. Mkhwanazi further claimed that the police minister, Senzo Mchunu, decided to dissolve the team.
Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed the work done by the task team.
During a recent meeting with the Northern Cape Provincial Executive, Ramaphosa said the team has been doing its work and has done a tremendous job.
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