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Durban court sets 2026 trial dates for contract killings of ANC-affiliated police officers

Five men accused of executing contract killings that left two Durban Metropolitan Police Service officers and an African Narional Congress Youth League secretary dead will stand trial in May 2026, it was decided in the Durban High Court this week. The accused, arrested by the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), allegedly shot their victims execution-style after mistakenly killing the wrong target in their initial assassination attempt. The case was deemed trial-ready by the Durban High Court earlier this week. The accused men – Fana Wellington Shabalala (39), Thulani Holly Shozi (36), Zamokuhle Mnyandu (44), Ntobeko Hadebe/Msezane, (29) and Mthokozisi Ntando Blose – are charged with conspiracy to commit murder, three counts of murder, unlawful possession of an automatic rifle, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. The five men are alleged to have been contracted and paid to kill Lindokuhle Madonsela, who was an ANC member and a Durban Metro Police officer, between May and June 2020. The state alleges they conspired among themselves, with Shozi being the one to assist his co-accused and their alleged accomplices with movement details of Madonsela. However, on 25 May 2020, in a matter of mistaken identity, the accused allegedly shot and killed ANCYL secretary Thamsanqa Kingdom Gcabashe, who was coming from a prayer meeting in the evening, mistaking him for Madonsela. Gcabashe had just been appointed as ANCYL secretary. Additionally, he lived together with the metro police officer Madonsela at Mpumalanga township in Hammarsdale. “Gcabashe saw the accused inside his yard, armed with handguns, and tried to run away. However, two shots were fired while they were chasing him. He fell to the ground, and they continued firing shots at him. He died at the scene from a gunshot wound to the skull and its contents,” reads the indictment against the accused. When the accused realised Gcabashe was not their target, they allegedly continued with their mission to kill Madonsela. On 9 June 2020, approximately two weeks after the murder of Gcabashe, Ndumiso Thusi, a metro police officer, arrived at Madonsela’s home with his car to pick him up for work at around 05h30. He parked outside the house, and as soon as Madonsela got into the car, they were approached by a vehicle with some of the accused as occupants. The state alleges that the accused, who were armed with an AK-47 rifle and handguns, opened fire on Thusi and Madonsela. “Thusi died at the scene from a penetrating gunshot wound to the head. Madonsela also died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds with multiple organ involvement,” the state alleges. During court proceedings, deputy director of public prosecutions Lawrence Gcaba told the court dates have been agreed on for the trial next year. He said the trial of Shozi and his co-accused would run from 19 May until 19 June. Judge Jacqueline Henriques certified the matter trial-ready and postponed it to 2026. – IOL

Emily Ndadi •
Durban court sets 2026 trial dates for contract killings of ANC-affiliated police officers
Five men accused of executing contract killings that left two Durban Metropolitan Police Service officers and an African Narional Congress Youth League secretary dead will stand trial in May 2026, it was decided in the Durban High Court this week. The accused, arrested by the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), allegedly shot their victims execution-style after mistakenly killing the wrong target in their initial assassination attempt. The case was deemed trial-ready by the Durban High Court earlier this week. The accused men – Fana Wellington Shabalala (39), Thulani Holly Shozi (36), Zamokuhle Mnyandu (44), Ntobeko Hadebe/Msezane, (29) and Mthokozisi Ntando Blose – are charged with conspiracy to commit murder, three counts of murder, unlawful possession of an automatic rifle, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. The five men are alleged to have been contracted and paid to kill Lindokuhle Madonsela, who was an ANC member and a Durban Metro Police officer, between May and June 2020. The state alleges they conspired among themselves, with Shozi being the one to assist his co-accused and their alleged accomplices with movement details of Madonsela. However, on 25 May 2020, in a matter of mistaken identity, the accused allegedly shot and killed ANCYL secretary Thamsanqa Kingdom Gcabashe, who was coming from a prayer meeting in the evening, mistaking him for Madonsela. Gcabashe had just been appointed as ANCYL secretary. Additionally, he lived together with the metro police officer Madonsela at Mpumalanga township in Hammarsdale. “Gcabashe saw the accused inside his yard, armed with handguns, and tried to run away. However, two shots were fired while they were chasing him. He fell to the ground, and they continued firing shots at him. He died at the scene from a gunshot wound to the skull and its contents,” reads the indictment against the accused. When the accused realised Gcabashe was not their target, they allegedly continued with their mission to kill Madonsela. On 9 June 2020, approximately two weeks after the murder of Gcabashe, Ndumiso Thusi, a metro police officer, arrived at Madonsela’s home with his car to pick him up for work at around 05h30. He parked outside the house, and as soon as Madonsela got into the car, they were approached by a vehicle with some of the accused as occupants. The state alleges that the accused, who were armed with an AK-47 rifle and handguns, opened fire on Thusi and Madonsela. “Thusi died at the scene from a penetrating gunshot wound to the head. Madonsela also died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds with multiple organ involvement,” the state alleges. During court proceedings, deputy director of public prosecutions Lawrence Gcaba told the court dates have been agreed on for the trial next year. He said the trial of Shozi and his co-accused would run from 19 May until 19 June. Judge Jacqueline Henriques certified the matter trial-ready and postponed it to 2026. – IOL
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