NPA SECURES LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR COUNCILLOR'S MURDERERS
BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR
NPA SECURES LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR COUNCILLOR'S MURDERERS
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence of life imprisonment imposed by the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court on Khayelihle Shabalala and Deon Thabo Mathonsi Chonco following their convictions for the murder of Nhalayenza Ndlovu. Ndlovu was a councillor for the Democratic Alliance (DA) party, at the time of his death.
The convictions followed guilty pleas tendered by both accused in terms of Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Act. Ndlovu was murdered in the Howick area in December 2023.
In their plea statements, the accused detailed their respective roles in the planning and execution of the murder.
Shabalala stated that in November 2023, he received a call from Chonco informing him that an individual wanted another person killed. A telephonic conference call was subsequently held between the accused and the person who had solicited the murder. During this discussion, the individual allegedly indicated that the intended victim was problematic and interfering with certain activities.
According to Shabalala, Chonco later informed him that arrangements had been made to kill Ndlovu in Howick. Chonco further advised that Ndlovu was allegedly interfering with the sale of land and plots and needed to be eliminated. Shabalala was promised R30 000 for carrying out the murder and subsequently recruited an accomplice to assist.
Armed with firearms, Shabalala and his accomplice proceeded to Ndlovu's residence. Although Shabalala did not fire his weapon, he stated that his accomplice fatally shot Ndlovu because the confined space made it difficult for him to do so. The pair then fled the scene. After the murder, Shabalala informed Chonco that the mission had been completed and later received R24 000 through a bank deposit. In his plea, Shabalala mentioned that only after the murder was committed, did he realise that it was Ndlovu who was killed.
In his plea statement, Chonco admitted that he had facilitated the murder after receiving a request from another individual to have someone killed. He contacted Shabalala to execute the plan. Following the murder, Chonco received R30 000 from the person who had commissioned the killing, he retained R6 000 and transferred the balance to Shabalala.
Shabalala was arrested in December 2024, while Chonco was subsequently arrested while already in custody on unrelated matters.
Both accused admitted that their conduct was unlawful and intentional and constituted the crime of murder. They further acknowledged that this was so despite not personally discharging a firearm during the commission of the offence.
The matter against the remaining co-accused is ongoing and is scheduled to return to the Pietermaritzburg Magistrates' Court on 29 September 2026.
In aggravation of sentence, Advocate Elvis Gcweka led the evidence of the investigating officer, who highlighted the seriousness of the offence. The court also heard that Ndlovu's father has experienced ill health since the murder of his son.
The court sentenced both accused to an effective term of life imprisonment and declared them unfit to possess firearms.
The NPA commends the dedicated efforts of the prosecution team, the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team, and all law enforcement partners whose collaboration contributed to securing these convictions and sentences.
Together with its law enforcement partners, the NPA remains steadfast in upholding the rule of law and protecting communities from violent crime.
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