SAPS Political Killings Task Team Arrests Senior Municipal Officer for Sindiso Magaqa Murder
- The South African Police Service's Political Killings Task Team busted one of the suspects behind the killing of former ANCYL secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa
- The Task Team arrested a former municipal manager in Durban again after he was initially arrested in 2018
- He is expected to appear in court on 29 July 2025, and South Africans applauded the work of the Task Team
- Dr Tinyiku Ngoveni, the chairperson of the University of South Africa's School of Criminal Justice, spoke to Briefly News
Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, covered a range of criminal activities, including cash-in-transit heists, kidnappings, taxi violence, police investigations, police shootouts, and court cases at Daily Sun for over three years.
Source: Getty Images
DURBAN, KWAZULU-NATAL —South Africans celebrated the arrest of a former municipal manager on 28 July 2025 in Durban, Kwa-Zulu-Natal, in connection with the murder of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa's murder.
According to a statement the South African Police Service (SAPS) released, the suspect was arrested after the Political Killings Task Team made a breakthrough in the investigation of the murder of Sindiso Magqwa. The suspect was re-arrested in Malvern, Durban.
It was not the first time he was arrested. The suspect was initially arrested in 2018 alongside the Umzimkhulu Local Municipality's former mayor, hitman Sibusiso Ncengwa, a businessman, and two police officers. The former municipal manager was charged with murder and will appear before the Umzimkhulu Magistrates' Court on 29 July 2025.
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What's been happening with Magaqa's death?
Ncengwa's affidavit linked the senior municipal official to Magaqa's death. Magaqa was killed in 2017 after he was shot numerous times. Ncengwa also implicated politicians and police in Magaqa's death.
Ncengwa was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on 7 July 2025. He confessed to killing Magaqa and pled guilty.
Magaqa, who was the African National Congress's Youth League Secretary-General, was gunned down in July 2017. He died in hospital two months later. It's alleged that Magaqa was about to open a case of corruption against muncipal officials of the Umzimkhulu Local Municipality when he was killed.
Policing expert speaks to Briefly News
Dr Tinyiku Ngoveni, the chairperson of the University of South Africa's School of Criminal Justice, spoke to Briefly News about the arrest.
"This is a sign of the extent of corruption by politicians, where they will eliminate everyone standing on their corrupt activities, including their comrades. We appreciate the good work by the task team and must resuscitate themselves, leaving no stone unturned," he said.
Source: Getty Images
What did South Africans say?
Netizens were elated that the suspect was arrested.
Eyammampehle Tshemese Ndlebe said:
"2025 July in South Africa goes straight to the Guiness Book of World Records. I'm sure by now some are packing and getting ready to run and skip the country."
Shallom Hlayisani Lamula said:
"July needs to be extended with immediate effect."
Takifhani Captain Die-hard Sibasa said:
"July must be renamed Mkhwanazi."
Thanday Ma'Keabetswe Mamakhe Mabona said:
"2025 is the year of revelations."
Ebeloe Ebeloe said:
"We are going somewhere now in this country."
Sindiso Magaqa's family calls for justice
In a related article, Briefly News reported that Magaqa's family welcomed the stiff sentence his killer received. Sibusiso Ncengwa was sentenced to 25 years for his murder.
Magaqa's brother, Lwazi Magaqa, said that those who were behind his assassination must be arrested. He said that Magaqawas the breadwinner of the family.
Source: Briefly News
