Slain Cato Manor officer's widow left to raise young children alone as murder suspects appear in court
THE deceased Cato Manor officer, Sergeant Mondli Gabisa, who was fatally stabbed following an argument. The off-duty Gabisa had recently married when he was stabbed socialising with his wife and friends.
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The dark cloud of grief still hangs heavy over the widow of Sergeant Mondli Gabisa, a Cato Manor SAPS officer who was brutally stabbed to death in front of her last year.
On the night of November 8, 2026, the 39-year-old officer was enjoying an evening with his wife and friends when he was fatally attacked just outside a block of flats in Cato Manor, Durban not far from a popular hangout KwaZaba Shisanyama. The tragic incident has left his family grappling with the emotional aftermath of his untimely death.
On Wednesday, Thobile Gabisa, the sister of the slain officer, spoke outside the Durban Magistrate Court, where four suspects, Thalente Griffiths Cele, 42, Philani Mhlongo, 29, Minenhle Amahle Cele, 20, and Nadia Shezi, 25, made their appearance in the ongoing murder trial. The toll of her brother's loss was palpable as she recounted how his widow is still struggling to accept the reality of her husband's absence.
"She broke down and cried when I told her that today is the court day," said Gabisa. "My brother died just a few months after his wife had given birth, and they already had another young child. The baby is only one year old. The other one is probably five years old. It is not easy. My brother's death has forced her to raise these young children alone."
The impact of this tragedy is further felt as Gabisa's widow, Simphiwe, has not attended any court proceedings since the trial began, becoming a silent witness to the judicial process that surrounds the murder of her partner. The state prosecutor, Calvin Govender, informed the court that the matter has now been handed over to the National Prosecuting Authority, with the aim of transferring it to the Durban High Court. Govender also highlighted that there are pending verifications, including exact location of the crime scene and post-mortem results.
The magistrate has adjourned the case until March 17, 2026, allowing for further investigations to unfold. Among the suspects, it has been revealed that Minenhle Amahle Cele was a Grade 12 learner who was preparing for final exams when she was nabbed last year. In stark contrast to her educational pursuits, she faces serious charges linked to the violent death of Sergeant Gabisa.
During the bail applications, only one of the accused, Nadia Shezi, was granted bail of R1000. The other accused, Thalente Cele, Mhlongo, and Minenhle Cele, are facing charges directly related to the murder of Gabisa, while Shezi is also implicated in an assault charge against Gabisa's widow, who was present during the life-altering attack on her husband.