Police fatally shoot suspect linked to KZN principal’s murder in Soweto

Mapaballo Borotho

Police fatally shot a suspect linked to the 2020 murder of school principal Zwelabantu Zuma in Msinga.
The 40-year-old, also wanted for other crimes in KZN, allegedly opened fire on officers during his arrest in Soweto.
Two men are serving life sentences for the murder of Zwelabantu, while one suspect is still on the run.

A suspect allegedly linked to the 2020 murder of KwaZulu-Natal school principal Zwelabantu Zuma was fatally shot by police in the early hours of Monday. Zuma was killed in his office at a Msinga school in 2020.

The 40-year-old suspect, also wanted for carjacking and possession of an unlicensed firearm, had previously been arrested, but his case was withdrawn.

Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed that new evidence secured a J50 warrant for his arrest.

“On Sunday afternoon, members of the National Intervention Unit (NIU) tracked him to a hostel in Mapetla, Soweto. When confronted, he allegedly opened fire on officers, who returned fire and fatally wounded him”.

Two suspects in Zuma’s murder are already serving life sentences, while two others died before trial. One suspect remains at large, and police are continuing their search.