KwaZulu-Natal triple-murder accused Inkosi Zuma faces Christmas behind bars
THE Nxamalala Tribal Authority's traditional leader, Inkosi Simphiwe Zuma, faces Christmas behind bars after his triple murder case was postponed to next year.
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KwaNxamalala Traditional Authority leader Inkosi Simphiwe Zuma will spend Christmas behind bars after his latest attempt to secure bail collapsed following yet another postponement in his drawn-out murder trial.
Inkosi Zuma's hopes of temporary freedom were dashed when his legal team reportedly mixed up court dates, resulting in his bail application being postponed to January 12, 2026. The matter is expected to be transferred to the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
The traditional leader, who faces three separate murder charges, two of which involve relatives, appeared briefly in the Howick Magistrates' Court in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands with some of his co-accused appearing without the presence of lawyers. The absence added to a growing list of delays that have marked the high-profile case.
Inkosi Zuma has spent most of the year behind bars following his arrest in June for the murder of his cousin, Qalokunye Zuma, a senior induna of the KwaNxamalala Traditional Authority in Mpendle. He was initially granted bail of R25,000, but his freedom was short-lived.
Barely a month later, Inkosi Zuma was rearrested by the Political Killings Task Team in connection with the murder of his nephew, Democratic Alliance chief whip in the Mngeni Local Municipality, councillor Nhlalayenza Ndlovu.
Ndlovu had been vocal in opposing illegal electricity connections in the eMpophomeni area outside Howick. Inkosi Zuma's bail application in that matter was denied, a decision he later appealed.
A third murder charge was subsequently added, relating to the killing of Mpophomeni activist Xolani Ndlovu-Ntombela, who was known for his opposition to the illegal sale of land in the area. Inkosi Zuma has not applied for bail in this case.
Inkosi Zuma has four co-accused across the murder cases, including Thobani Hlongwa, Khayelihle Shabalala and Thabo Mathonsi Chonco. Chonco also stands accused alongside Zuma in the murder of Ndlovu-Ntombela, together with Thembelani Mbatha.
The continued delays have drawn sharp criticism from the Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal. Provincial leader Francois Rodgers expressed frustration that the Ndlovu murder trial had once again failed to move to the High Court.
"Today we should have heard the indictment against the accused. Instead, once again, the prosecuting authority stumbled around in the dark and offered unreasonable excuses," Rodgers said.
“One accused’s lawyer and a witness’s lawyer thought the matter was scheduled for December 14, which is a Sunday. We are beginning to question what is really going on.”
Rodgers questioned why the National Prosecuting Authority had repeatedly failed to move the matter to the High Court, asking whether there was an attempt to keep the case bogged down in the magistrates' court.
"These are the questions that we will continue to ask until justice is served for Ndlovu," he said.
Inkosi Zuma remains in custody at Westville Prison.