Alleged hitman Zwelithini Buthelezi, 43, appeared in a packed Howick magistrate’s court on Friday, accused of orchestrating the December 2023 assassination of uMmngeni local municipality DA councillor and chief whip Nhlalayenza Ndlovu.
Buthelezi, an induna (headman) in the Nxamalala tribal authority in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, appeared with Masobho Hlongwa, 31, and Khayelihle Shabalala, 31. The case was postponed to July 9.
On Thursday, Buthelezi — clad in a long-sleeved brown floral shirt — appeared in the Impendle magistrate’s court, charged with the January 23 murder of induna Qalokunye Zuma from the Nxamalala clan in Impendle.
That matter was postponed to June 20 and Buthelezi is expected to appear with alleged gunmen Thembelani Mbatha, 21, and Deon Mathonsi, 30, who are in custody and facing murder charges.
In both cases, Buthelezi is charged with conspiracy to murder, murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and illegal ammunition.
Prosecutors have strongly opposed bail, labelling him a flight risk after he evaded capture for more than a year.
His arrest came on May 20, when he appeared in one of multiple cases linked to transformer theft in uMngeni and the illegal sale of power to residents in newly developed housing surrounding eMpophomeni township.
The presence of heavily armed police officers at both hearings was a chilling reminder of the political power plays, assassinations and electricity theft plaguing the Midlands.
Scores of DA protesters, led by provincial leader Francois Rodgers, protested outside court on Friday, condemning the SAPS’s handling of the investigation. Ndlovu was gunned down outside his home, in front of his wife, two children and a nanny. His family have since abandoned the home outside eMpophomeni.
Ndlovu's brother, Sthembiso Ndlovu, said the family had no choice but to leave.
“They just couldn’t stay there any more,” he said. “We’re relieved the alleged killers have been arrested. Now we want justice. The killers robbed our community of a leader, our family of a brother, and his children of their protector — of everything.”
They just couldn’t stay there any more,” he said. “We’re relieved the alleged killers have been arrested. Now we want justice. The killers robbed our community of a leader, our family of a brother, and his children of their protector — of everything.
Once firmly ruled by the ANC, the uMngeni local municipality fell to the DA in November 2021 after years of ANC infighting, including violent factional protests in 2016. eMpophomeni, one of its townships, has long suffered from electricity outages exacerbated by municipal crackdowns on illegal connections.
The DA accuses Buthelezi’s syndicate of spearheading transformer theft, deepening tensions and fuelling municipal financial losses. Before Ndlovu’s murder, violent protests shut down highways linking Impendle, Bulwer, Bergville, Pholela and other inland towns, causing economic and social disruption.
For many eMpophomeni residents, Buthelezi’s arrest brought relief, though fear lingers.
A 34-year-old resident, who did not want to be named, summed it up: “I don’t want to talk a lot about that man ... He is dangerous. He’s been linked to many cases, many murders. He gets arrested, then walks free again.”
On Thursday in Impendle, Buthelezi stunned prosecutors and his own defence team by raising his hand and requesting a bail hearing postponement, saying he needed more time to consult his legal team.
Magistrate NB Nhlapo adjourned proceedings for 30 minutes, before postponing the bail hearing to June 20.
Friday’s court session was brief but highly charged.
Ndlovu’s family packed the courtroom, alongside Rodgers and DA councillors and supporters. AfriForum also attended, voicing frustration over how the SAPS handled the investigation.
Buthelezi’s lawyer, advocate Martin Krog, requested a postponement for further consultation, saying his client wanted to see how his Impendle bail application played out before deciding on his defence strategy for the Howick trial.
Co-accused Hlongwa lodged a formal complaint about inhumane treatment at Westville Correctional Centre, where he is being held.
Rodgers said the DA had commissioned a forensic investigation nine months ago, which identified Buthelezi as one of the conspirators in Ndlovu's killing. He claimed that when they presented evidence to police task teams, they were ignored.
“We have too many unanswered questions,” Rodgers said. “Why did SAPS ignore the evidence without testing its efficacy? Why has it taken this long for arrests? Today [Buthelezi] was remanded to July 9, so investigators can finish their work. By then they need their ducks in a row — so we can know exactly who was involved and why our chief whip was murdered."
Police did not respond to the DA's allegations.
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