News
Justice on Hold: Ex-Cops’ Sentencing Delayed in High-Profile ANC Murder Case
The quiet of the courtroom this Friday at the Pinetown Regional Court could hardly mask the weight of what was meant to happen. The long-awaited sentencing of two former officers accused of corruptly undermining a politically charged murder case was pushed aside.
When the trial should have ended
Back in March 2025, the court found former detective Bonginkosi Dlamini and retired Lieutenant Colonel Khephu Ndlovu guilty of corruption and defeating the administration of justice. The pair had accepted a bribe of R120 000 from Sibongile Ndlovu, intended to sabotage evidence in the 2018 murder of a branch leader of the African National Congress (ANC) in KwaNdengezi. The actual murderers, among them Sibongile’s husband, Felokwakhe Ndlovu, were already sentenced to life imprisonment earlier.
The court had scheduled mitigation of sentence for this Friday, with a view to passing final judgements for Dlamini, Ndlovu, and three co-accused. The public expected a swift conclusion to a saga that had dragged ANC supporters and critics alike through a haze of corruption, betrayal, and justice delayed.
A last-minute plea stalls closure
Instead, the hearing was stalled. Ndlovu signalled that he wants to testify on his own behalf to plead for mercy. His newly appointed lawyer, John‑Paul Broster, asked to postpone the sentencing until February 2026, citing outstanding medical records. The court granted the request.
It is a rare and uneasy pause: after years of trial and public outrage, the final chapter is on hold once more.
The dark underbelly of a murder case
The impetus for the corruption charges lies in the 2018 killing of Thulani Nxumalo, then an ANC branch leader at KwaNdengezi. The killers, including Felokwakhe Ndlovu, were convicted and sentenced to life in prison. But it emerged that the state’s original investigating officer (Dlamini) and a senior police official (Ndlovu) had accepted money to weaken evidence, giving the killers hope for acquittal.
According to the prosecution, Sibongile handed over the bribe outside the Durban Central police station between August and October 2019. The funds were meant to ensure that key witness statements would be withdrawn or that evidence would disappear. The machinations laid bare deep rot in parts of the police service, undermining community faith in law enforcement and sparking condemnation.
Human cost behind bars
During court proceedings this week, Dlamini, who has been in custody since March 2020, described harsh conditions in prison. He told the court that Westville Prison lacks medical facilities, despite his claims of suffering from diabetes and depression. He alleged that inadequate food worsened his health, yet he was never given proper medical care.
Prosecutors challenged his claims, pointing out that his pre-sentence report still listed him as employed by the police, a clear contradiction given that he had been dismissed.
What this postponement means for public trust
For many observers, this postponement is more than a legal technicality. It signals delays in finishing a chapter that exposed corruption within the police, shaking public confidence. For residents of KwaNdengezi, Durban, and beyond, it is yet another example of justice being stalled when accountability is most needed.
In social media circles, there has already been talk of frustration: some worry that the recollection of events will fade, witnesses may become unavailable, or public interest will wane, all factors that could tilt the balance for the accused when they finally face sentencing. Others see the delay as a chance for fuller disclosure, hoping that Ndlovu’s testimony might unearth further misconduct.
Either way, the postponement drags on a story that began with a brutal murder, wound its way through bribery, lies and betrayal, and now limps toward closure.
The court will reconvene in February 2026. Until then, communities touched by the murder and corruption can only wait.
Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter, TikT
For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com
Source: IOL
Featured Image: News24
