Former Bhekithemba Police Station commander in Umlazi, south of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, Khephu Ndlovu, has been sentenced to an effective 17 years’ imprisonment.
The Pinetown Regional Court convicted Ndlovu on corruption charges after he accepted a R120,000 bribe to obstruct a murder investigation involving former Magangeni local induna, Felokwakhe Ndlovu.
Four co-accused were also each sentenced to 17 years in prison. They are Captain Bonginkosi Dlamini, Sibongile Ndlovu (Felokwakhe’s wife), Lindokuhle Mbonambi (Felokwakhe’s son), and Felokwakhe Ndlovu himself.
Ndlovu, a retired Lieutenant-Colonel, was found guilty of accepting the bribe to manipulate evidence in the 2018 murder case of Thulani Nxumalo, an ANC branch leader in KwaNdengezi.
The court heard that Sibongile Ndlovu delivered the bribe in a bag at the Durban Central Police Station parking lot. The payment was intended to secure Felokwakhe Ndlovu’s acquittal in the murder case.
Following the payment, interference in the investigation began. Captain Dlamini, who was the investigating officer, was removed from the case after allegedly participating in the scheme.
Evidence before the court revealed that Dlamini instructed state witness Celani Dlamini to withdraw his statement and warned that his life would be in danger if he continued cooperating with authorities.
Khephu Ndlovu also interfered by contacting officers involved in the investigation in an attempt to weaken the case.
All accused were convicted of corruption and defeating the ends of justice.
At the time of the offences, Khephu Ndlovu was a senior officer in the Visible Policing Unit at Bhekithemba Police Station and also served as a police spokesperson in the Durban South District.
Following his conviction, Ndlovu, who had been out on bail during the trial, was taken into custody and transferred to Westville Prison.
Captain Bonginkosi Dlamini had remained in custody throughout the trial after being denied bail. He was attached to the national political task team and was the lead investigator in the Nxumalo murder case at the time of the offence.