It’s been nearly eight years since the shocking assassination of Sindiso Magaqa, a young politician once seen as a future leader in South Africa.
And now, in 2025, there’s finally been a major development.
The South African Police Service’s Political Killings Task Team has just made another arrest that could bring long-awaited answers.
The man arrested? A former municipal manager from the Umzimkhulu Local Municipality—caught by authorities in Malvern, Durban on July 28, 2025.
Suspect Resurfaces After Years of Silence
What makes this arrest even more striking is that this same individual had already been linked to the case years ago.
Back in 2018, he was arrested alongside the late Mayor of Umzimkhulu in connection with Magaqa’s murder.
“This isn’t the first time this suspect has been involved in the investigation,” SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe explained.
But this time, the police seem more confident in the charges.
It’s taken years of painstaking work by the Political Killings Task Team to get here.
Justice Begins to Catch Up
This latest arrest follows another big breakthrough just weeks earlier.
On July 7, 2025, Sbusiso Ncengwa—the man identified as the hitman who actually pulled the trigger—was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
He was one of four people arrested back in 2018, alongside two ex-cops and a businessman.
The case has long been surrounded by whispers of political interference and hit jobs.
The suspect re-arrested this week is now 55 years old, and he’s expected to appear in the Umzimkhulu Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
Remembering Sindiso Magaqa
Sindiso Magaqa wasn’t just another local politician.
At the time of his assassination in September 2017, he was serving as a councillor in Umzimkhulu, KwaZulu-Natal.
But before that, he was also the former secretary general of the ANC Youth League—once hailed as a bright and promising future leader of the ANC.
His death sent shockwaves across the country, as many believed it was tied to his fight against corruption in his municipality.
Police Say They Won’t Back Down
Brigadier Mathe made it clear that the police aren’t stopping until everyone involved is brought to justice.
“We will not rest until all perpetrators are held accountable,” she stated.
This latest arrest is a small but significant step in the long pursuit of justice for Magaqa, whose death highlighted the deadly cost of political rivalry in parts of South Africa.
What Can You Do?
The Political Killings Task Team continues to face enormous challenges, and they need ongoing public support.
Do you have any insights or suggestions on how communities can help?