Ex-SAPS detective receives 18-year sentence for murder and kidnapping

A former SAPS detective was sentenced by the Durban High Court on Wednesday to 18 years' imprisonment for killing and kidnapping a man he suspected of being involved in a planned hit on a Phungula family and their adopted daughter in Marianhill in August 2022. 

Sergeant Ayanda Percival Ntombela, who resigned from the SAPS in 2022, pleaded guilty to the murder of Sihle Mtshare, kidnapping, defeating the administration of justice, and theft.

On August 18, 2022, a police commander from Marianhill police station received information about potential threats against the Phungula family. 

According to Ntombela, the threats specifically targeted the adopted daughter, Bongekile Ntuli, who had recently received an inheritance. Ntuli received death threats on her cellphone. 

Ntombela stated that he and his colleagues were deployed to protect the Phungula family after receiving information about threats. The team was withdrawn at 23:30 when no attack occurred.

Ntombela stated that he spoke with Beatrice Phungula and other family members. He concluded that, despite the attack not occurring, they remained in danger. Following this, Ntombela regularly patrolled the area and visited the Phungula home to maintain a police presence. He reported developing a relationship with Phungula and her family.

He said that on August 21, Phungula confiscated cellphones from everyone in her household, including her cousin, Mtshare, who lived in the outbuildings of the Phungula homestead.

“I was suspicious of Mtshare, and my suspicions were confirmed when I checked his phone. I found out he had links with a certain lady known as Ntombifuthi,” he stated. 

Ntombela said Ntombifuthi was next in line to receive the inheritance, which Ntuli had received if she had died.

He stated that he confiscated Mtshare's phone and brought him in for questioning regarding the hit on Ntuli and the Phungula family. He further added that he transported Mtshare to the Marianhill police station at approximately 20.00pm.

“I handcuffed him before placing him at the back of a Toyota Hilux,” he said. 

The Hilux was a marked police vehicle allocated to Ntombela for his exclusive use. He said he left Mtshare at the police station and went back to the Phungula family to get statements. 

Upon his return to Mtshare, he denied any involvement and refused to cooperate. Ntombela then took him to a secluded location where he assaulted him. Despite the assault, Mtshare continued to refuse cooperation.

He said he intended to take Mtshare to KwaNdengezi police station, but on his way, he stopped and realised that Mtshare was dead. 

“The intention was not to kill him,” he explained. 

Ntombela said the reason for the assault was to get Mtshare to talk. He said he disposed of the body in a bushy area within a stormwater pipe at Kulani Valley in Cato Ridge.

He also threw Mtshare's cellphone into the bushes behind the SAPS Marianhill station to avoid being implicated in the crime.

Ntombela became a kidnapping suspect after Mtshare was not found, and it was discovered that he had taken him.

On September 7, 2022, Ntombela recovered the cellphone from the bushes. He then booked it into the police register after informing his superior.

The following day, September 8, 2022, Ntombela aided police, members of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), and a Search and Rescue Unit in locating Mtshare's body with the help of a sniffer dog.

nomonde.zondi@inl.co.za