MASS killing and armed robbery convict, Deon Warren Thabo Mathonsi, already serving five life sentences, is linked to multiple high-profile killings across KwaZulu-Natal's Midlands region. He was expected to plead guilty for his role in orchestrating the murder of DA councillor in uMngeni Municipality, Nhlalayenza Ndlovu. Mathosi's matter was postponed to Friday.
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The expected admission of guilt by convicted mass murderer Deon Warren Thabo Mathonsi in connection with the killing of Democratic Alliance councillor Nhlalayenza Ndlovu has been postponed to Friday by the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court.
Mathonsi, who earlier this year was sentenced to five concurrent terms of life imprisonment for the murder of five men in the Mbambo household in Gobhogobho, Bulwer, in 2023, is accused of masterminding the killing of Ndlovu, the chief whip for the Democratic Alliance in the uMngeni Municipality in Howick in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
He is also linked to another mass murder of 10 members of the Memela family in Imbali, Pietermaritzburg
He is a co-accused with Inkosi Simphiwe Zuma, the leader of the Nxamalala Traditional Authority, who is currently in custody.
Mathonsi had been expected to confess to the plot to kill Ndlovu when he appeared before the court. However, senior prosecutor Elvis Gcweka requested a postponement after Mathonsi’s legal representative failed to appear in court.
Mathonsi previously indicated, when the case was still before the Howick Magistrate’s Court, that he intended to plead guilty.
Two weeks ago, another accused, Khayelihle Shabalala, also signalled his intention to plead guilty.
If both pleas are confirmed, only Inkosi Zuma and co-accused Thobani Masobho Hlongwa would remain contesting the charges. Another accused, Zwelithini Buthelezi, has since turned state witness.
Ndlovu, who was also a nephew of Inkosi Zuma, was gunned down in front of his young wife and children in eMashobeni outside Mpophomeni. The killing is believed to be linked to his opposition to the alleged illegal sale of municipal land.
Meanwhile, Inkosi Zuma appeared in court on Friday in connection with two additional murder cases.
In one matter, he faces charges for the killing of his cousin Qalokunye Zuma, the induna of the Nxamalala Traditional Authority, who was shot dead in front of his family in iMpendle.
The second case relates to the murder of community activist Xolani Ntombela, who had reportedly opposed illegal land sales and unlawful electricity connections in Mpophomeni.
In the Ntombela murder case, Zuma’s co-accused include Mathonsi and Thembelani Mbatha.
Both cases were postponed to Friday.
Zuma was arrested in July last year by the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team while he was out on bail in the case relating to the murder of his cousin in iMpendle.