Justice in Motion: Two Arrested in Shocking Murder of IFP Leader Khethamabala Sithole

Gauteng police confirm breakthrough in politically-charged case

The township of Katlehong is still reeling from the brutal murder of Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) deputy chief whip, Khethamabala Sithole. But a sense of hope and perhaps justice is returning to the community following the arrest of two suspects this week.

Police confirmed that a task team investigating the case brought in three individuals for questioning. Two of them, aged 30 and 32, were formally charged with attempted murder and linked to the deadly shooting. The third was released. The suspects appeared at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court today, June 5, 2025.

“More arrests are expected,” said police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo. “This is an ongoing investigation.”

A Political Life Cut Short

Sithole was gunned down during a meeting at Buyafuthi hostel in Katlehong on Saturday evening, May 31. Eyewitnesses say unknown assailants opened fire on a group of people, including IFP leaders. Sithole died on the scene. Two others, including the party’s provincial secretary Alco Ngobese, were rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds.

The attack was shocking even in a country where political violence still casts long shadows.

“Khethamabala was a hard-working servant leader,” said IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa. “His life was a testament to his unwavering commitment to the people and to our democracy.”

Sithole had been with the IFP since his youth and was a pillar within Gauteng’s political community. As the provincial chairperson and deputy chief whip, he was seen as both a strategist and a unifier especially in the often-fragmented landscape of township politics.

Political Violence: A Haunting History

The assassination has revived chilling memories of political killings that plagued KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in the past. Community members in Katlehong describe a return of fear especially among hostel residents, where many IFP supporters still live.

“People are scared to speak openly,” said a local hostel dweller who asked to remain anonymous. “We’ve seen this before in the ‘90s — and we hoped those days were behind us.”

While the motives behind Sithole’s murder have not yet been confirmed, the possibility of politically motivated violence cannot be ruled out. The IFP, once embroiled in violent clashes with the ANC during apartheid’s final years, has warned repeatedly that political intolerance is on the rise again.

A Nation on Edge: The Tragedy of Lukhona Fose

In a tragic twist of timing, news of Sithole’s death came just as South Africans were learning about another horrifying killing the murder of 14-year-old Lukhona Fose in Durban Deep. The Grade 8 pupil was found mutilated in a field after disappearing on Sunday.

“Our communities are under siege,” said Deputy Police Minister Dr Polly Boshielo, who confirmed that a separate specialised team is probing Fose’s killing.

Both cases — one a targeted political hit, the other a brutal attack on a child have gripped the nation and sparked fresh conversations around safety, justice, and the state’s capacity to protect its citizens.

Social Media Reactions: ‘Enough is Enough’

On social media, South Africans expressed both sorrow and fury. The hashtag #JusticeForSithole trended briefly on X (formerly Twitter), with users condemning the ongoing violence.

“Another black leader silenced. We can’t normalize this,” wrote one user.

Others called for accountability, urging police and political leaders not to let the arrests be the end of the story.

“We want the masterminds. The ones who sent the shooters,” said a community leader in a video that went viral.

While the arrests mark a major step forward in the Sithole case, many believe this is just the beginning. Gauteng, especially areas like Katlehong and Thokoza, has long been a volatile terrain where political turf wars often turn bloody.

The IFP has vowed not to back down, calling for increased protection of its leaders and a broader national conversation about political safety.

As for Sithole’s family and the people he served, the road ahead remains steep but the call for justice is louder than ever.

If you have any information related to the shootings or the murder of Lukhona Fose, contact SAPS Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS app. Your identity will be protected.

{Source: The Citizen}

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