Former uMzimkhulu Municipal Manager
Bail in Sindiso Magaqa Murder Case
In a key win for justice seekers, the uMzimkhulu Magistrate’s Court has turned down bail for Zweliphansi Stanley Sikhosana, the former municipal manager tied to the 2017 killing of ANC Youth League leader Sindiso Magaqa. The ruling came on Tuesday, 23 September 2025, with the court saying Sikhosana did not prove special reasons to let him out. This keeps him locked up as he faces grave charges like murder and plotting to kill. The case shines a light on the dark side of political fights in KwaZulu-Natal, where hits on leaders have left families broken and communities scared.
Sikhosana’s bid for freedom fell flat amid fears he might skip town or mess with witnesses. The decision brings some hope to Magaqa’s loved ones, who have waited years for answers. As South Africa battles graft and violence in politics, this step could push for tougher checks on those in power.
Court Slams Door on Bail Bid
The uMzimkhulu Magistrate’s Court made its call after hearing both sides. Sikhosana, 55, claimed health woes like diabetes and high blood pressure, plus family duties, made him fit for bail. He offered R20,000 and said he would not run or tamper. But the magistrate was not swayed, pointing out no exceptional grounds for release.
The state fought hard against bail, calling Sikhosana the brains behind the hit. They said letting him go would hurt the quest for justice and risk public safety. Investigators feared he could flee or scare off key people in the case. The court agreed, keeping him in custody until his trial kicks off next month.
Sikhosana faces charges of murder, conspiracy to murder, and holding unlicensed guns and bullets. His next stop is the Pietermaritzburg High Court in October 2025, where the full trial will play out.
The Brutal Attack on Sindiso Magaqa
Sindiso Magaqa, once the ANC Youth League’s top secretary and a councillor in uMzimkhulu, was gunned down in cold blood on 13 July 2017. The attack happened in his hometown, where shooters sprayed his car with bullets. Magaqa and two pals, Jabulani Msholozi and Nonsikelelo Mafa, were hit. Msholozi and Mafa made it, but Magaqa clung to life for weeks before passing at Chief Albert Luthuli Hospital in Durban on 4 September 2017.
Magaqa was known for calling out graft in the Harry Gwala District Municipality. He blew the lid on dodgy tenders and misuse of funds, making enemies in high places. Many see his death as a payback for his bold stand against corruption.
The killing shocked the nation and sparked a big probe by the KwaZulu-Natal political killings task team. It fits a sad pattern in KZN, where over 100 political murders have gone down since 2011, often over fights for power and cash.
Sikhosana’s Alleged Role and Rocky Arrest Path
Sikhosana stepped into the spotlight as the supposed plotter of the hit. As uMzimkhulu’s municipal manager back then, he allegedly set up the murder to hush Magaqa’s graft claims. Probes link him to tender scams worth millions, which Magaqa was digging into.
He first got nabbed in 2019 with others, but the case got dropped in 2021 for lack of proof. Fresh leads brought him back in cuffs in July 2025 by the KZN task team. This time, cops say they have solid ties to the crime.
During bail talks, Sikhosana claimed threats and smears wrecked his life. He said he stepped down from his job and lost his good name. But the court saw risks too big to ignore.
Other Players and Past Guilty Verdicts
Sikhosana is not alone in the dock. Four men got nailed in 2023 for the deed: hitmen Sibusiso Mpungose and Mbulelo Mpofana, plus middlemen Mlungisi Ncalane and Harry Gwala mayor Mluleki Ndobe. Each drew 30 years behind bars.
Ndobe, once a big ANC name, passed in prison in 2024 from illness. The convictions came after a long trial with twists, including claims of witness scares.
The task team has cracked many such cases, but political killings keep happening in KZN. Probes like the Moerane Commission in 2018 flagged weak policing and party fights as root causes.
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