Pietermaritzburg – The Pietermaritzburg High Court in KwaZulu-Natal has sentenced Hitman Sabelo Phewa to two life sentences for the murder of Richmond Local Municipality Municipal Manager Sibusiso Sithole.
Phewa was convicted of the murder of Sithole, who was shot and killed at the Richmond Licensing office in 2017.
Sithole was fatally shot by Phewa while on his way to attend a meeting with the then council to discuss issues he was investigating that involved possible tender fraud and corruption.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) Political Killings task team, which is the subject of the ongoing Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, took over investigations in 2018, which led to the conviction of the accused.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe explained that the firearm found in Phewa’s possession at the time of his arrest was found to be linked to several other murders, including that of Amos Ngcobo.
Brigadier Mathe said Ngcobo’s wife hired the hitman to kill her husband, Ngcobo.
She later turned state witness and was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.
The Pietermaritzburg High Court in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday, 23 September 2025 sentenced Phewa as follows:
- Murder of Municipal Manager Sibusiso Sithole – Life Imprisonment
- Murder of Amos Ngcobo – Life Imprisonment
- Attempted murder of police officers at the time when they were effecting his arrest – 5 years imprisonment
- Possession of an unlicensed firearm – 15 years imprisonment
- Unlawful possession of ammunition – 5 years imprisonment
The SAPS National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has welcomed the double life sentence handed down to hitman Phewa by the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
Commenting further on Phewa’s sentencing, General Masemola, who is giving evidence before the Madlanga Commission, said: “Well done to the SAPS political killings task team for cracking this case and ensuring a lengthy conviction for the hitman.
“Through this case, we were able to link and solve other cases, such as the murder of Amos Ngcobo.
“The number of life sentences secured by the task team is now more than 30 life sentences secured for several hitmen and hit orderers.
“Well done, and may you continue to provide answers and closure to other families.“
Testifying before the Madlanga Commission, General Masemola has lauded the work done by the task team in solving murders.
