Two men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of a contractor from Dundee, whom they attacked with barbed wire and a knife.
The National Prosecuting Authority’s KwaZulu-Natal Spokesperson, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, confirmed that the Dundee Regional Court handed down life sentences to Mzwandile Ndebele and Sfundo Ximba on 2 September 2025.
The murder occurred in July 2022, when the two men killed 30-year-old Simphiwe Mfanile Sithole in the Pomeroy area. “The men (Ndebele and Ximba) were related to Sithole, who was a builder. Sithole was conducting building work on a house in the area when they attacked him. They accused him of stealing some things belonging to Ndebele,” Ramkisson-Kara stated, adding that the men then proceeded to assault Sithole across his entire body. She further noted that Ndebele used a piece of barbed wire, while Ximba wielded a knife.
The attack escalated rapidly, resulting in Sithole’s death at the scene due to the severity of his injuries.
Ndebele was arrested immediately when police arrived, while Ximba was apprehended a week later.
Ramkisson-Kara further explained that the state’s case was supported by Prosecutor Sibonelo Mncadi, who presented testimony from eyewitnesses present at the time of the offence. The postmortem report was also submitted as evidence. “In aggravation of sentence, Mr. Mncadi handed in a Victim Impact Statement (VIS) compiled by Sithole’s brother and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Victoria Griffiths. In his statement, the brother said that Sithole was the breadwinner in their home, and he had used his talent as a builder to support them. Since his death, they often go to bed hungry, and their lives have changed for the worse,” Ramkisson-Kara said, highlighting the profound consequences of the crime on the family.
She further emphasised that, as the prosecuting authority, the NPA hopes that sentences of this nature serve as a deterrent. “Together with our partners in law enforcement, we will pursue justice on behalf of the victims of crime and their families,” Ramkisson-Kara concluded.
The life sentences handed to Mzwandile Ndebele and Sfundo Ximba for the murder of Dundee contractor Simphiwe Mfanile Sithole reflect the court’s response to a brutal crime that deprived a family of their primary provider.
The ruling underscores the profound loss endured by Sithole’s loved ones, who now face ongoing hardship, and serves as a stark reminder of the enduring impact of violent crime on KwaZulu-Natal communities.
It should be emphasised that Northern KwaZulu-Natal, including regions such as Dundee and Pomeroy, has experienced a troubling surge in violent crimes, notably murders and assaults, as reflected in the South African Police Service (SAPS) quarterly crime statistics for the 2024/2025 financial year. According to the SAPS report released on 21 February 2025, KwaZulu-Natal recorded 1,623 murders between October and December 2024, contributing to the province’s 16% share of national reported crimes, with a murder rate of 14 per 100,000 people—ranking second nationally behind the Eastern Cape.
Moreover, assaults with intent to cause grievous bodily harm increased by 7.5% during this period, driven by factors such as disputes, vigilantism, and widespread firearm access, as noted in February 2025. Additionally, Statistics South Africa’s Victims of Crime Survey from August 2024 reported a 38% national rise in murders over the past year, with many cases unreported due to distrust in law enforcement, further destabilising rural areas such as the uThukela District, where violent incidents are increasingly prevalent.
Furthermore, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Community Safety and Liaison’s November 2024 briefing highlighted a slight 0.1% increase in serious community-reported crimes for July to September 2024, totalling 63,666 cases, with assaults notably rising in northern regions.
The Civilian Secretariat for Police Service has stressed the urgency of targeted interventions, including enhanced intelligence and community collaboration, to address this escalating trend.
As Northern KwaZulu-Natal grapples with these challenges, the sentencing of Ndebele and Ximba underscores the pressing need for sustained efforts to curb violence, ensuring safer communities and a future where families like Sithole’s can regain stability and security.
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