Slain ANC veteran's family hails PKTT after hitman pleads guilty

The family of slain ANC veteran Zibuse Mlaba has expressed gratitude to the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) and prosecutors for making sure that the killers of Mlaba face the full might of the law. The family spoke after one of the hitmen pleaded guilty on Friday and was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment by the Camperdown Regional Court. 

Zibuse was a chief in the KwaXimba area in Camperdown. Additionally, he served as an ANC deputy chairperson in KwaZulu-Natal and was a member of the legislature. He was killed on October 21, 2021, at Wareing's Shopping Centre, outside his office. 

Nhlanhla Hlongwa, 31, confessed on Friday to having participated in the plot to kill Zibuse, further implicating Zibuse’s cousin Mzamo Duncan Mlaba,63, as the mastermind behind the crime. 

Mzamo is currently incarcerated at Westville prison and is charged with the murder of Zibuse and that of hitman Mncedisi Gwala. He has made bail applications for both murders in different courts. Gwala was identified as one of the shooters on the fateful day, and he was Hlongwa’s uncle. According to another hitman, Fortune Dlamini Mzamo paid R130 000 for the hit and R10 000 for each gun used to kill Zibuse.

Dlamini has since been sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment after pleading guilty. In his plea, Dlamini revealed that Mzamo had Gwala killed because he found out that the police had taken DNA evidence at the murder scene of Zibuse. He allegedly killed Gwala to erase evidence. 

In his plea, Hlongwa said he only received R1000, which he used to buy clothes. He also stated that Mzamo deceived them by stating that Zibuse was just a ‘normal person’. After they went to kill him, they discovered on the news that he was a politician. 

Following the court proceedings, Hlongwa and Mthobisi Dubazane - the getaway car driver on the day of the incident - issued apologies to the Mlaba family. The family was directed to a separate courtroom where they received emotional apologies from a tearful Hlongwa and Dubazane. However, Zibuse's daughters, Mandisa Mlaba and Thembeka Nsimbi, remained outside the courtroom, visibly distressed and crying.

Dubazane's charges were withdrawn. His mother was observed speaking with the Mlaba family and exchanging hugs earlier in the day.

“We are happy with the progress of the case. We are grateful to the team (PKTT) for their work,” Mandisa said. 

She said the PKTT came to them in April last year when it took over the case, and its hard work shows because two convictions have been achieved with the alleged mastermind apprehended. Mandisa said before the PKTT took over, they had no idea what was happening with the murder case of their father. 

“As painful as it may be to relive everything and learn what happened, we are satisfied,” she added.

She further stated that it was still hard to come to terms with the fact that their own blood is charged for the murder of their father and that some family members are showing Mzamo support.

Thembeka said she was glad that all the controversy around the PKTT started when they had been able to crack her father’s murder.

“I don’t think there was going to be progress without the PKTT. We thank the entire team, including the prosecutors, for their patience with us and their constant communication. It is amazing,” she said.

She further confirmed that Dubazane’s mother has reached out to the family, and since reconciled their differences. Though she said at the beginning it was not easy, as she first started by being hostile towards them. 

Cape Times