By Celani Sikhakhane
The stepmother of a murdered Nkandla traditional leader has been sentenced to life in jail.
Khethiwe Lizzy Zondi, 51, and headman Celimpilo Shabangu, 62, were both sentenced on Tuesday by the Pietermaritzburg High Court in KwaZulu-Natal for the murder of Inkosi Mzomuhle Zondi, 24.
Inkosi Zondi was killed soon after he ascended to the throne of the Zondi tribe in November 2021.
He was appointed to take over the throne after his stepmother Khethiwe Zondi was dethroned as a regent. She was stripped of the role after the family accused her of adultery.
Natasha Kara from the National Prosecuting Authority said that before the incident, the stepmother Khethiwe was married to Inkosi Zondi’s father; they lived in the Mpotholo area.
“Following the death of Zondi senior, she was appointed as regent for the Zondi tribe. Since she was romantically involved with her co-accused, Shabangu, she appointed him as an Induna (headman) to serve under her, once her husband died.
“However, due to her improper behaviour, the members of the tribe consulted with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), and she was demoted. The deceased, Zondi (stepson) was appointed as the new regent,” said Kara.
She said that this angered the stepmother and her boyfriend, and they conspired to kill the stepson, getting the services of a hitman known as “Mkhize”.
“On the evening of 10 November 2021, they went to one of the buildings in the royal house where they shot and killed the stepson, Inkosi Zondi.
“Thereafter they went into hiding, and while the stepmother Khethiwe and her boyfriend Shabangu were arrested a month later in the Msinga area, Mkhize remains at large,” she said.
Upon her arrest, the stepmother Khethiwe made a confession which she later retracted.
Kara said that following a trial within a trial (on this issue), the confession was admitted in court as evidence.
Bongi maSithole-Moloi, the MEC for Cogta in KZN, said that it is disturbing that Inkosi Zondi was killed by the people he trusted with his life.
Pictured above: The youngest traditional leader of the Zondi tribe in Nkandla, Inkosi Mzomuhle Zondi, who was killed by a hitman hired by his stepmother and her boyfriend.
Image source: Supplied
