Murder-accused Inkosi Zuma abandons bail bid in third case

Nxamalala Tribal Authority’s traditional leader, Inkosi Simphiwe Zuma, has abandoned his bid for bail in his third murder case.

Zuma appeared in the Howick Magistrate’s Court, where his lawyer, Advocate Sthembiso “Sticks” Mdladla, informed the court that he would not be applying for bail in connection with the murder of Xolani Ndlovu, also known as Ntombela.

Zuma was charged last week with Ndlovu/Ntombela’s 2022 killing in eMasosheni, Mpophomeni, allegedly for opposing the illegal sale of municipal land.

The traditional leader is currently being held at Westville Prison as an awaiting-trial prisoner after his request to be transferred to Pietermaritzburg failed. He is also facing two other murder cases, the murder of Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor and uMngeni Local Municipality chief whip, Nhlalayenza Ndlovu, and the murder of his cousin, senior induna of Nxamalala Tribal Authority, Qalokunye Zuma, who was gunned down in front of his family in Mpendle.

For the induna’s murder, Zuma was previously released on R25 000 bail, but was nabbed by the Political Killings Task Team a few weeks after his release. In the DA councillor case, he is awaiting a ruling on his bail application, which is due on 30 September.

The DA councillor was Inkosi Zuma's nephew.

Two of Zuma’s co-accused in the Ndlovu/Ntombela matter, Thembelani Mbatha and Thabo Chonco, have also opted not to apply for bail. Mbatha initially indicated his intention to apply last week but made a reversal in court on Monday.

Chonco, meanwhile, is already standing trial in the Pietermaritzburg High Court for the mass murder of a Bulwer family.

The Howick Magistrate’s Court postponed the case to 30 September.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE