Namhla Mtwa murder case left to ‘gather dust’ | Madlanga Commission

The Madlanga Commission was told that Namhla Mtwa’s murder file formed part of 121 Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) dockets transferred from KZN to the national Police office, where they reportedly lay untouched for about three months.

Mtwa, 35, was shot nine times outside her home in April 2022 while returning from work. 

Public outrage over her death sparked countrywide protests and demands for accountability, especially amid allegations she had been trapped in a violent relationship.

Police Maj-Gen. Mary Motsepe, head of serious and violent crime, testified that her office initially investigated the case before transferring it to the PKTT in October 2023. 

She said investigators were preparing to arrest suspects when legal manoeuvres derailed the operation.

“The target applied for an interdict against the investigation, and it was dismissed this year in January. When they were supposed to do the takedown, he interdicted again. The docket was recalled by the suspended police deputy commissioner, Shadrack Sibiya,” Motsepe told the commission.

Motsepe said she no longer knows the status of the case. She also revealed that three alleged hitmen linked to the matter had been killed, though she did not disclose further details.

Media reports have previously identified Mtwa’s ex-boyfriend, Mthatha businessman Major Mfesana Bhekizulu, as a person of interest.

He filed court papers claiming he was abducted during police questioning related to the murder, but his case was later dismissed.

The stalled investigations form part of a broader controversy surrounding the handling of PKTT cases.

KZN police commissioner Lt-Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has previously accused senior officials of removing the dockets from the province only for them to “gather dust” in the office of Sibiya.

Motsepe initially denied during her testimony that the KZN PKTT 121 dockets had been left untouched in Pretoria, but later admitted they we not investigated for about three months.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za 

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