Pietermaritzburg: The South African Police Service (SAPS) has expressed approval of the Pietermaritzburg High Court’s decision to find Sabelo Phewa guilty of the murder of Richmond Local Municipality Manager, Sibusiso Sithole. Sithole was fatally shot in 2017 at the Richmond licensing office while heading to a meeting concerning investigations into municipal fraud and corruption.
According to South African Government News Agency, the sentencing is scheduled for 31 July 2025 at the Durban High Court. The SAPS Political Killings task team took over the investigation in 2018, eventually leading to Phewa’s arrest. The firearm seized from Phewa was linked to other murders, including that of Amos Ngcobo. Ngcobo’s wife, who ordered the hit, turned State witness and received a five-year sentence.
The Pietermaritzburg High Court found Phewa guilty of multiple charges, including the murder of Sithole and Ngcobo, attempted murder of police officers during his arrest, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition.