Faith Nongcebo Ntombela, a 44-year-old South African woman, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her husband, Captain Zwelakhe Ntombela.
The sentence was handed down on Friday, November 29, 2024, by the Durban High Court, according to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).
Captain Ntombela, an officer with Durban Metro Police, was shot and killed on May 3, 2023, as he arrived home in Umlazi, said Hawks KZN spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo.
A murder case was opened at Umlazi Police Station, and the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team took over the case. During the investigation, it was revealed that his wife had stolen both his private and service firearms prior to the shooting.
In July 2023, 28-year-old Mzo Ntombela, the husband’s relative, was arrested in Msinga, where he had been hiding. Captain Ntombela’s firearms were recovered at his homestead in KwaMaphumulo.
Mzo’s arrest led to further arrests, including that of Faith Ntombela, 53-year-old primary school principal Sithembiso Khumalo, and Khulani Cele. Faith, a court employee, worked with Khumalo to hire a hitman to kill her husband.
Mzo Ntombela pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Faith Ntombela received a life sentence for murder, 10 years for firearm theft, and 2 years for defeating justice. These sentences will run concurrently. Khumalo and Cele will face trial in April 2025.
KwaZulu-Natal Hawks Provincial Head Major General Lesetja Senona praised the sentence.
