Sentencing postponed for ex-cops involved in ANC leader's murder bribery scandal
Retired Lieutenant Colonel Khephu Ndlovu was found guilty of accepting a bribe to weaken evidence in a 2018 murder case.
Image: File
The sentencing of former detective Bonginkosi Dlamini and retired Lieutenant Colonel Khephu Ndlovu was postponed on Friday morning at the Pinetown Regional Court after Ndlovu announced his intention to testify for the mitigation of his sentence.
The two former police officers were convicted in March 2025 for corruption and defeating the administration of justice. The mitigation of sentence was scheduled for Friday, where Magistrate Muntukayise Khumalo was expected to pass sentence on them and three co-accused.
Dlamini and Ndlovu accepted a R120,000 bribe from Sibongile Ndlovu to undermine evidence in the 2018 murder case of ANC branch leader Thulani Nxumalo, who was killed in KwaNdengezi. The perpetrators — Felokwakhe Ndlovu, Nkosinathi Mbambo, and Nkosiyanda Ndlovu — were all sentenced to life imprisonment by the Durban High Court in May 2023. Felokwakhe was an induna in KwaNdengezi.
Sibongile paid the bribe to the former officers at the Durban Central police station between August and October 2019 to secure the acquittal of her husband, Felokwakhe, who was the mastermind behind the assassination and had paid Mbambo and Nkosiyanda to carry out the hit.
Dlamini served as the investigating officer in the Nxumalo case, while Khephu Ndlovu acted as the intermediary between Dlamini and the couple. Khephu was a senior officer in the SAPS Visible Policing Unit at Bhekithemba police station.
The couple's son, Lindokuhle, was also convicted of concealing the murder weapon. Following their convictions, both Lindokuhle and Khephu were immediately taken into custody.
On Friday, Advocate John-Paul Broster, recently appointed as Khephu’s lawyer, informed the court that his client wished to testify for mitigation of sentence.
Broster, who is also Dlamini's lawyer, requested a postponement to February 2026, stating: “Accused number four wants to testify. We are currently waiting for his hospital records.” The court granted the postponement.
Khephu’s previous lawyer, Advocate Andrew Matlamela, had formally withdrawn on Thursday after Khephu terminated his mandate.
From left former police officer Bonginkosi Dlamini, Sibongile Ndlovu, Felokwakhe Ndlovu, retired Lt. Colonel Khephu Ndlovu and Lindokuhle Ndlovu who were found guilty of defeating the ends of justice. Their sentence is scheduled for February 2026.
Image: Nomonde Zondi
During Thursday’s proceedings, Dlamini, who has been in custody since his bail was refused in March 2020, told the court that the Westville Prison lacks a hospital or doctors.
He claimed that despite suffering from diabetes and depression, his health has deteriorated due to a lack of food in the prison, and he gets sick and recovers without seeing a doctor.
When questioned by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Lawrence Gcaba about never being admitted to a hospital despite claiming critical illness, Dlamini responded: “I don’t know why I was never admitted.”
Gcaba further questioned Dlamini about allegedly misleading the court, as his pre-sentence report suggested he was still employed by the South African Police Service.
Gcaba pointed out: “Court is now told if you are given supervision, you will not lose focus on your career, which is confusing because you have been dismissed.”
Dlamini denied remembering the probation officer asking him about his career or voluntarily sharing that information.