Namhla Mtwa’s Murder Case Among 121 Political Killing Dockets Left ‘Gathering Dust’ For Months, Commission Told

The long-delayed murder case of Eastern Cape woman Namhla Mtwa — who was shot nine times outside her home in 2022 — is among 121 political killings task team (PKTT) dockets that allegedly lay untouched for months in Pretoria, the Madlanga Commission heard this week.

Mtwa, 35, was attacked in April 2022 while returning from work. Her murder drew national outrage, sparked mass protests, and revived public anger toward South Africa’s failures in dealing with gender-based violence. At the time, it was alleged that she had been in an abusive relationship.

Testifying before the commission, national head for serious and violent crime Maj-Gen Mary Motsepe said Mtwa’s case was originally investigated by her office and formally handed to the PKTT in October 2023.

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According to Motsepe, investigators had already identified suspects and their alleged motive. However, progress stalled when the primary target repeatedly approached the courts to block the investigation.

“The target applied for an interdict against the investigation, and it was dismissed this year in January. When they were supposed to do the takedown, he interdicted again this year; the docket was recalled by Shadrack Sibiya,” Motsepe testified.

She told the commission she does not know the current status of the matter, adding that three alleged hitmen connected to the case had been killed, though she did not provide details.

Mtwa’s ex-boyfriend, Mthatha businessman Maj Mfesana Bhekizulu, previously accused police of abducting him during questioning, but his court challenge was dismissed.

Namhla Mtwa’s Docket And Others Left Idle for Months

The testimony aligns with earlier claims from KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who publicly stated that more than 120 political killing dockets were taken from the PKTT and redirected to the office of suspended deputy commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya, where they “gathered dust”.

Mkhwanazi alleged that Sibiya believed the task team was investigating criminal cartels he might benefit from.

Motsepe confirmed that the dockets were transported to Pretoria for auditing, arriving in March and only being returned to the PKTT in August — a four-month delay with no investigative progress.

Commissioner Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga pressed Motsepe on whether she accepted that the cases remained untouched. “I will accept that, commissioner,” she responded.

Audit Reveals Serious Failures

Motsepe said her inspection uncovered alarming failures across multiple dockets:

23 identified suspects were never arrested despite witness statements.

A key case was withdrawn after a suspect was granted bail and the witness feared for their life.

Four cases were marked nolle prosequi due to prosecutors’ instructions being ignored.

In one matter, suspects identified in an identity parade were not arrested.

Another suspect was arrested without a prosecutor’s directive.

Motsepe criticised suggestions to disband the PKTT ahead of the 2026 local government elections, warning that KwaZulu-Natal historically sees high spikes in political killings in election periods.

“It is a well-known fact that KZN has the highest incidence of political killings, and there is usually a spike before elections,” she said.

The commission continues its hearings.

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