Latest news with #Mlaba
IOL News
09-05-2025
- IOL News
NPA rejects consolidation of Zibuse Mlaba's murder case with alleged killer
Zibuse Mlaba's cousin, Duncan Patrick Mlaba, is alleged to have paid R130 000 for his assassination and R10 000 for the firearms used in the murder. Image: Nomonde Zondi The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has denied the request to consolidate the murder cases of Zibuse Mlaba, a former KZN MPL, and Mncedisi Gwala, a hitman who allegedly killed Mlaba for the bail purposes of the mastermind behind the assassinations. This was heard in the Mlazi Magistrate's Court on Friday morning, where the alleged mastermind, Duncan Patrick Mzamo Mlaba, who reportedly paid R130 000 for the hit on Mlaba, made a brief appearance. The State prosecutor, Advocate Sanele Ntombela, confirmed that the defence is aware of the decision of the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Lawrence Gcaba, not to consolidate the two murder cases for Mzamo's bail application. Former KZN MPL and ANC veteran Zibuse Mlaba was allegedly killed by his cousin, Mzamo Mlaba. Image: Supplied The denial of the request is due to issues of jurisdiction, as Mlaba's matter is in the Camperdown Regional Court while Gwala's is at the Mlazi Magistrate's Court. When Mzamo made his first appearance for the murder of Gwala last month, his attorney, Arvina Harricharan, told the court that they would be making representations to the State to have both the murder cases consolidated so that Mzamo could apply for bail once. She said once they know the outcome, they will indicate if they are applying for bail. However, for Mlaba's murder case, which is now at the Camperdown Regional Court, Mzamo abandoned bail. 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 ✕ According to the plea of Fortune Dlamini, a coordinator in Mlaba's murder, he said Mzamo is the one who told him that he wanted Mlaba dead. Dlamini said he organised the hitmen for Mzamo. Mlaba, who was once the ANC provincial deputy chairperson and regent chief of KwaXimba area in Camperdown, was gunned down at Wareing Shopping Centre outside his office on October 21, 2021. 'At some stage after the killing of Mlaba, Gwala was arrested for unlawful possession of an unlicensed firearm. I also learnt that the police collected DNA at the murder scene of Mlaba, and Mzamo instructed me to arrange hitmen to kill Gwala,' Dlamini said in his plea. He said on February 8, 2022, Gwala was gunned down. Dlamini identified Gwala as the shooter who ended the life of Mlaba. Dlamini has since been sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment by the Camperdown Regional Court. Attorney Abdul Karrim, who was standing in for Harricharan, told the Mlazi court that they intend to apply for bail in July as advocate Ntombela would not be available on May 20. However, the court raised concerns about the date of the bail application being far. 'The accused and the family are waiting for a specific counsel to do the bail application,' Karrim said. The matter was then set for two days for the bail application in July.
IOL News
02-05-2025
- IOL News
ANC veteran Zibuse Mlaba's cousin charged with murder seeks bail
From left Mthobisi Dubazana wearing a hat, Nhlanhla Hlongwa, and Mzamo Mlaba at the Camperdown Regional Court. They are all accused of the murder of former KZN MPL Zibuse Mlaba. Image: Nomonde Zondi The cousin of slain ANC veteran Zibuse Mlaba, who allegedly paid R130 000 for his hit in 2021, intends to apply for bail in the murder case of a hitman he had allegedly sent to kill Mlaba. The 63-year-old Duncan Patrick Mzamo Mlaba, a former regent chief of the KwaXimba region of Camperdown, is accused of sending Mncedisi Gwala to murder Mlaba. He allegedly murdered Gwala in 2022 after discovering that police had collected DNA at the murder scene. On October 21, 2021, Mlaba was shot dead in front of his Wareing Shopping Centre office. Fortune Dlamini, one of the hitmen who killed him, just entered a guilty plea, revealed the plan to kill Mlaba, and named Mzamo as a conspirator. Duncan, also known as Mzamo, would be applying for bail in Gwala's murder case at Mlazi Magistrate's Court on May 9. He was first charged with the murder of his cousin, Mlaba, and later charged with that of Gwala. Mthobisi Dubazana and Nhlanhla Hlongwa are accused of killing ANC veteran Zibuse Mlaba. Image: Nomonde Zondi 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ When he made his first appearance at Mlazi Magistrate's Court, his attorney, Arvina Harricharan, told the court that they would make representations to the State to consolidate both the murders of Gwala and Mlaba. Harricharan said that, depending on the outcome, they would then apply for bail in the Gwala matter. Additionally, in the Mlaba matter, Mzamo abandoned bail at the Camperdown Magistrate's Court. On Friday, he joined his co-accused Mthobisi Tsebang, Dubazana, 30, and Nhlanhla Lungelo Hlongwa, 30, at the Camperdown Regional Court for the murder of Mlaba. Former KZN MPL and ANC veteran Zibuse Mlaba, who was allegedly killed by his cousin Mzamo Mlaba. Image: Supplied The State senior prosecutor advocate Elvis Gcweka told the court that Dubazana and Hlongwa were supposed to have their pre-trial conference today before Mzamo was added. In asking for a postponement, Gcweka told the court that Mzamo has a pending matter, which relates to Mlaba's murder. 'The intention is to indict them (all three accused) to the High Court. We are hoping that by June, all the other issues will be resolved,' Gcweka said. A banner was displayed by the Mlaba family seeking justice for Zibuse Mlaba. Image: Nomonde Zondi The matter was then postponed to June 2025. Although the Mlaba family is divided, with some members supporting Mzamo and others supporting Mlaba's children (Zibuse), the court was packed with Mlaba supporters. Outside the court, a small group of Mzamo supporters could be spotted. Across the street from the Camperdown court, the family had laid down a huge banner with the picture of Mlaba, written 'Justice 4 Mthwazi'. Mthwazi is a nickname that Mlaba was called in his youthful years. The former premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Sihle Zikalala, had described Mlaba as a peacemaker and a man who played a crucial role in quelling tensions at the height of political violence in the province. Mlaba had also served as an MPL and the provincial chairperson of the ANC while former president Jacob Zuma was the chairperson.
