School principal sentenced to life imprisonment for metro police murder
The KwaZulu-Natal Local Division of the High Court sitting in Durban sentenced Sithembiso Khumalo (56) who was a school principal and Khulani Cele (48) to life imprisonment for murder of Captain Zwelakhe Ntombela.
Khumalo was further sentenced 8 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm, another 8 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm, 18 months imprisonment for unlawful possession of ammunition and 8 years imprisonment for defeating the ends of justice.
His sentence will run concurrently and both accused were declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The two were found guilty on 11 May 2026 hence they were sentenced yesterday. They are going to join Nongcebo Ntombela who was also sentenced to life imprisonment for murder of her husband.
According to KZN Hawks Spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo, on Friday, 17 November 2023, Hawks members from Durban Serious Organised Crime Investigation arrested an additional suspect in a murder case of Captain Zwelakhe Ntombela.
“Captain Ntombela was shot and killed whilst he was arriving at his home in Umlazi on 3 May 2023. He was then robbed of his private and service pistols. A case of murder was reported at Umlazi police station and the case docket was allocated to Hawks members from Durban Serious Organised Crime Investigation for intensive investigation.
“In July, Mzo Ntombela (27) was arrested by the Hawks members working together with National intervention Unit at Umsinga area where he was hiding. Captain Ntombela’s firearms were recovered at KwaMaphumulo. Mzo was sentenced to 20 years direct imprisonment on 21 August 2023,” he said.
Mhlongo said after his sentence, Nongcebo Ntombela (43) who is the wife of the murdered police officer was arrested and charged for her husband’s murder.
“Hawks members dig deep and arrested another accused, Khulani Cele (45) who was already serving life imprisonment at New Prison Correctional Services in Pietermaritzburg.
“The 53-year-old arrested suspect will join Nongcebo and Khulani in the Umlazi Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 20 November 2023,” he said.
