Cato Crest murder: bail denied for three suspects in MK Party member’s death
Durban — Magistrate Ashwin Singh denied bail to three suspects in the murder case of uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) member Mxolisi Zungu, 32, in Cato Crest.
Zungu was shot dead in June of this year. Zungu was the MK Party’s elections campaign manager and also worked for a private security company as a bodyguard.
According to Zungu’s family, who were at the scene, he had left his child at a nearby crèche and was walking home with his wife.
Police reports stated that Zungu was walking along New Road with his wife when he was shot from behind by an unknown suspect. The suspect took Zungu’s firearm before leaving the crime scene.
A close friend claimed that Zungu had been receiving death threats after the May 2024 local government elections, which is why he thought Zungu’s killing was a political attack.
Police arrested Sphamandla Vulindlela Hlongwane, 41. During the bail application, the court heard that he is a traditional healer, a shebeen owner and a landlord. The second accused is Ngcebo Treasure Luthuli, 33, who claims to own a shebeen. In court, accused three, Thokozani Emmanuel Luthuli revealed that he earns a living by being a street vendor.
After hearing all the evidence from the State and the defence, Singh said the accused failed to show the court concrete reasons for why they should be granted bail. Singh added that they also failed to provide evidence of the existence of their businesses and how these would be affected if they were denied bail.
All three accused claimed that their children depend on them. However, Singh said they should bring birth certificates to prove that dependence. The case was adjourned to January 28.
Meanwhile, in May this year, Morgan Sihle Mbili died in a fire at his home in the same area. Mbili was one of the leading members of the ANC a few years ago, before joining the MK Party.
This is the same ward in which eThekwini Municipality ward 101 candidate Siyabonga Mkhize was gunned down in October 2021.
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