By Doreen Mokgolo
- Hitman Sibusiso Ngengwa confessed to helping kill ANC leader Sindiso Magaqa in 2017 and has now pleaded guilty in court.
- He says top politicians paid over R1-million to silence Magaqa, who was planning to expose corruption in his municipality.
A man who helped carry out the murder of former African National Congress Youth League leader and councillor Sindiso Magaqa has finally pleaded guilty.
Sibusiso Ncengwa told the Pietermaritzburg High Court that he was part of the group that gunned down Magaqa in 2017. He has now apologised to the Magaqa family and promised to tell the court everything about the killing.
Last month, he asked the court to change his plea from not guilty to guilty.
Ncengwa is one of three men still on trial for the murder. The court found Ncengwa guilty based on his admissions and convicted him accordingly.The case against Ncengwa was remanded to 30 June 2025 for sentencing.
Magaqa was shot and killed in Umzimkhulu on 13 July 2017. At the time, he was a councillor at the Harry Gwala Local Municipality and was speaking out against corruption.
He was with councillors Jabulani Mzizi and Nonsikelelo Mafa when he was attacked.
It is believed Magaqa was about to release a report naming former mayor Mluleki Ndobe and the municipality’s manager Zwelinanzi Skosana in corruption.
Ngengwa was first charged in 2018 while he was in police custody for a robbery in Harding.
Five others were later arrested. They are Jabulani Mdunge, former police tactical response team member Sbonelo Myeza, Lindokuhle Nkosi, Mlungisi Ncalane and Mbulelo Mpofana.
Ncalane was later declared unfit to stand trial and sent to Napier Hospital.
The group face charges including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of attempted murder, malicious damage to property, and possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.
In an affidavit dated 6 June 2025, Ncengwa, who is accused number four, said he got a call from Myeza on 11 July 2017. Myeza asked to meet him at Berea Centre and said there was “a job” in the Umzimkhulu municipality.
“He told me that the target wanted to report people about corruption at the said municipality.”
Ncengwa said the next day he met with Myeza, Mdunge, Nkosi, Ncalane and Mpofana.
“They informed us that he was sent by Skosana and Ndobe,” said Ngengwa.
“They offered R120 000 which would only be paid after we carried out the hit and a further tender award worth R1m which Mpofana promised to assist with as I was not familiar with the business.”
He also said he later found out that Skosana and Ndobe had already paid R600 000 for the hit.
“They requested that we don’t fight over the money and Ndobe committed to pay a further R500 000.”
“I later learned that the charges against Ndobe and Skosana were later withdrawn,” he said.
The men charged were Sibusiso Ncengwa, SboneloMyeza, Mlungisi Ncalane (who was subsequently declared unfit to stand trial and is currently admitted into a psychiatric facility), and Mbulelo Mpofana. The state has thus far led the evidence of eight witnesses.
The case against Myeza and Mpofana will return to court on 19 June 2025 for a new indictment to be served on them as their matter has now been separated from that of Ncengwa.
Pictured above: Sindiso Magaqa
Image source: Sindiso Magaqa Foundation
