Johannesburg – The South African Police Service (SAPS) has fatally shot a suspect linked to the 2020 murder of Zwelabantu Zuma, a school principal who was killed in his office at a school in Msinga, KwaZulu-Natal.
In a statement on social media, SAPS said the 40-year-old suspect, wanted for multiple crimes including carjacking and possession of an unlicensed firearm, was tracked down by the National Intervention Unit (NIU) to a hostel in Mapetla, Soweto, on Sunday afternoon.
“When the suspect noticed the presence of police, he began shooting and the NIU returned fire, fatally wounding him,” the police statement read.
The suspect had previously been arrested, but the case was withdrawn in court.
#sapsHQ #SAPS NIU tracked down a #wanted suspect who is linked to the murder of the late Zwelabantu Zuma, a school principal, who was shot and killed in his office at a school in Msinga in Kwa-Zulu Natal in 2020.
The 40yr-old suspect was wanted for several other cases in KZN… pic.twitter.com/2YFdLde3DZ
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) September 8, 2025
“The relentless SAPS investigator presented new evidence before court, and a J50 warrant of arrest was issued for the suspect,” SAPS said.
Police confirmed that two other accused in the murder of Mr Zuma are already serving life sentences, while two others died before their trials could take place. One suspect linked to the case remains at large.
SAPS spokesperson added: “We are continuing our search for the remaining suspect to ensure justice is served for Mr Zuma and his family.”
The killing of Mr Zuma in 2020 shocked the community, highlighting ongoing concerns around violence targeting educators in KwaZulu-Natal.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
