The Dundee Regional Court sentenced Sihle Acute Dlamini to life imprisonment for the murder of a ward councillor in the Matshematshe area of Pomeroy, south-south east of Dundee.
National Freedom Party (NFP) councillor Nompumelelo Zondi, 45, who served in the Nhlanhleni area, was shot and killed in her vehicle outside her home in March 2016.
Dlamini, 37,who fired the shot, fled the scene, and was arrested some time in 2023. His fingerprints (found on the scene) linked him to the shooting. Upon his arrest Dlamini had made a confession, which he later retracted, said Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
“In the state’s case Advocate Elvis Gcweka led the testimonies of 10 witnesses including a fellow party member of Zondi’s, as well as SAPS members who visited the crime scene and took the fingerprints.
“Gcweka also led evidence that Zondi was killed due to tensions within the party in that area. In aggravation of sentence, Gcweka led the evidence of one of Zondi’s family members who testified that Zondi was the breadwinner for the entire family. She also paid for the tertiary education for younger family members who have had to drop out of university due to lack of funds, following her death,” said Ms Ramkisson-Kara.
In addition to the life sentence Dlamini was also declared unfit to possess a firearm. Ms Ramkisson-Kara said the NPA is satisfied with the outcome of the sentence, and they commend the successful partnership between the prosecution, the Political Killings Task Team in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and other stakeholders.
