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IOL News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Details emerge in Inkosi Zuma's alleged involvement in cousin's killing
Induna Qalokunye Zuma who was allegedly killed by Inkosi Simphiwe Zuma over land dispute Image: Supplied Inkosi Simphiwe Zuma allegedly paid R30,000 as a reward to hitmen for the killing of his cousin Qalokunye Zuma, who was his chief induna, and if convicted on the matter, he will possibly be sentenced to life, said the National Prosecuting Authority. This was revealed by an affidavit compiled by investigating officer Detective Sergeant Innocent Chamane at the Impendle Magistrate Court on Wednesday afternoon. Inkosi Zuma has been in prison since his arrest on July 13 pending a bail hearing. After the state presented its statement in opposing the bail application, the court postponed the matter to Monday for cross-examination. Unlike in Inkosi Zuma's previous appearance on July 20, former president Jacob Zuma, who is his blood relative, did not arrive to support him. However, senior ANC leaders in KwaZulu-Natal, Super Zuma and Mthandeni Dlungwana, and Umkhonto Wesizwe Party activist Thobani Zuma, were there. He, his co-accused Zwelethu Buthelezi, who is his induna in Howick, and two alleged hitmen, Thabo 'Gambushe' Chonco, Thembelani Mbatha, are facing charges related to the murder of Induna Qalokunye Zuma, who was killed by a hail of bullets while at his home in Novuka village on January 14, 2023. 'Shortly after the shooting, the applicant (Inkosi Zuma) transferred an amount of R30,000 to Buthelezi, who paid the said money to Gambushe when they met at a fuel filling station in Pietermaritzburg,' said Chamane. Chonco and Mbatha, who were the first to be arrested, are already appearing at the Regional Court in Pietermaritzburg and were denied bail. Buthelezi, who is also facing charges in relation to the murder of the Democratic Alliance councillor and chief whip at uMngeni Municipality, Nhlalayenza Ndlovu, withdrew his bail application. In the statement, which National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)'s Advocate Zwelethu Mata read to the court, Chamane said he had evidence that directly linked the accused to the crime. The evidence is contained in cell phone recordings, bank statements, and ballistic evidence, among others. Chamane said the motive for the murder was related to a land dispute. He said that after one of Inkosi Zuma's indunas, Khumalo, had died, a certain Mnikathi informed Inkosi that there was a piece of land that was allocated to him by Khumalo. However, Inkosi refused to hand over the land to Mnikathi. This led to an argument between Inkosi and Mnikathi. Mnikathi then approached Qalokunye to intervene, but Inkosi Zuma also engaged in an argument with Qalokunye. It emerged that Inkosi Zuma was informed of a conspiracy by Qalokunye and Mnikathi to kill him. 'It should be noted that part of how the applicant was earning a living was to sell pieces of land under the tribal authority. 'The piece of land under dispute was also earmarked to be sold,' read the affidavit. In retaliation for the alleged conspiracy to kill him, Inkosi Zuma and Buthelezi arranged the killing of Qalokunye and Mnikathi using the services of Mbatha and Chonco. 'They armed themselves and went to the deceased's home where they shot and killed him at his place while he was on his bed playing a musical instrument,' said Chamane. The hit men were identified by eyewitnesses during the identity parade after they were arrested. 'After the arrest, we received several voice records in Buthelezi's cell phone between Buthelezi and the applicant (Inkosi Zuma). 'Part of the discussion was Buthelezi reporting back to the applicant about how the deceased was shot and killed, and precisely how the deceased's house was approached and the shooting happened," the state said. Chamane said Inkosi Zuma knew the hitmen. However, during his bail application, Inkosi Zuma disputed the authenticity of the voice on the recording. 'His voice will be proved at trial,' said Chamane. In trying to convince the court to deny bail, Chonco described Inkosi Zuma as a person who would do anything to escape justice. He said that after Buthelezi had skipped bail in a separate matter and was also running away from police after Ndlovu's murder, Inkosi would deposit money to him to fund his escape. He said Inkosi had also paid money to the accused in prison, apparently in trying to bribe them not to implicate him in the Qalokunye murder. [email protected]
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
KZN House of Traditional Leaders to address serious arrests of amakhosi
Former president Jacob Zuma shakes hands with Inkosi Simphiwe Zuma, who was recently charged with the murder of his Induma Qalokunye Zuma. Image: Independent Media Archives The KwaZulu-Natal House of Traditional Leaders (KZNHTL) will on Wednesday discuss the arrest of two amakhosi who are facing murder and rape charges, which are not related to each other. Inkosi Simphiwe Zuma, who is a popular associate and relative of Jacob Zuma, has been charged following the murder of his induna, who is also his relative. Another, Inkosi Thulabenzwe Dlamini, who is a relative of former African Union Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, is appearing in court for allegedly raping an 18-year-old woman last month. When contacted about the arrests, KZNHTL secretary Ntshinkala Dumo said the House would comment after its meeting on Wednesday. 'At the moment, there is still consultation, and once the decision is taken, it will be communicated after the meeting that is rescheduled for tomorrow,' said Dumo. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Inkosi has been charged in connection with the murder of the senior induna of his Nxabalala tribal authority in Mpendle, KwaZulu-Natal midlands, Qalokunye Zuma, who was also his relative. Both Inkosi Zuma and Inkosi Dlamini did not respond to questions sent to them via WhatsApp, and their phones were not answered. National Prosecuting Authority's KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said Zuma faced charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, and was remanded in custody until Wednesday for a bail application. Inkosi Zuma faces the charges along with another induna of his clan, who is also an accused in the murder of a Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor in uMngeni Municipality, Nhlalayenza Ndlovu. Inkosi Zuma was well-known for supporting the former president during court appearances. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) leaders would normally visit his palace to conduct traditional ceremonies. Inkosi Zuma's co-accused in the murder of Qalokunye Zuma is Zwelithini Buthelezi, who is also an induna in KwaNxamalala. Qalokunye Zuma was a senior induna, in charge of all izinduna in the tribal authority, when he was sprayed with bullets and killed in front of his children, wife, and customers who were buying at his tavern at his homestead in Novuka village in January 2023. Ndlovu was the chief whip at the uMngeni Municipality when he was killed in the same executional style in December 2023. Qalokunye Zuma was in his bedroom when strangers arrived at his homestead asking to talk to him. When he approached them, they opened fire, killing him instantly before getting away in a car that was parked nearby. A few days after the murder, Inkosi Zuma told this reporter that he was shocked by the murder of Qalokunye Zuma, whom he said was his close confidant 'Which is why I promoted him to be my prime minister (chief induna).' At the time, Inkosi Zuma said he was shocked that a person could be killed in broad daylight and in full view of the people because Impendle was known to be a peaceful rural town. 'Had it been a faction fighting, we would be able to deal with it by talking to warring factions to lay down arms,' said Inkosi Zuma. On social media, a member of the Zuma family told a journalist that the implication of the Inkosi in the murder was shocking because Inkosi Zuma and Qalokunye Zuma were related. Buthelezi, who was arrested a month earlier before Inkosi's arrest, made his first appearance on May 30 in Ndlovu's murder, and the case was postponed to July 9. According to the DA, Buthelezi did not apply for bail. In the Ndlovu's murder, Buthelezi is charged along with Thobani Hlongwa, who was alleged to be the trigger man, and another suspect whose identity could not be established. Meanwhile, Inkosi Dlamini of the Bhidla Tribal Authority, will appear at the Ixopo Magistrate's Court on Friday facing rape and kidnapping charges. 'The charge of kidnapping was added because he drove past the area where he was supposed to drop the girl,' said a councillor who attended Inkosi Dlamini's court appearances but who declined to be named for fear of victimisation. Inkosi Dlamini threw a big party to wish Dlamini-Zuma good luck when she was going to the 2017 ANC national elective conference in Nasrec, Johannesburg, to compete with President Cyril Ramaphosa for the party's presidency position. It was alleged that Inkosi Dlamini gave an 18-year-old girl a lift on May 3, but instead of dropping her at her destination, he continued driving the car and only stopped at a spot where there were no people and allegedly raped her. In a statement released shortly after Inkosi Dlamini's arrest and his first appearance at the Hlanganani Magistrate's Court on May 9, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu condemned the alleged sexual assault on the victim. 'This vile act — allegedly committed by someone who holds a position of leadership and authority— is a betrayal of the moral, ethical, and societal responsibilities bestowed upon traditional leaders; it flies in the face of the values we seek to uphold in a just, safe, and respectful society. 'It is clear that this Inkosi premeditated this and executed his plan using his car. 'All along and up to now, when engaging with my counterpart in CoGTA, it has been around the role that traditional leaders need to play on various social ills and around their security concerns, but we have never thought that we now have to engage on their involvement in the act of rape,' said Mchunu in a statement.
