Durban — Police have arrested 30-year-old Minehle Mthembu, wanted for the murder of businessman and whistle-blower Marumo Eric Phenya, following a coordinated operation between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal police.
Phenya, who had exposed corruption in a multi-million rand government tender, was ambushed and shot dead after dropping his children at school in Roodepoort on 17 October 2022.
Prior to his death, both he and his wife had received threatening messages, prompting an initial police case.
“A few weeks after the case was opened, Mr. Phenya was assassinated,” police said.
Gauteng police received intelligence that Mthembu was hiding in KwaZulu-Natal.
“The management of police in KwaZulu-Natal immediately assembled a multidisciplinary team, and on 6 February 2026, the team gathered intelligence that the suspect was hiding in Mtubatuba, north of Durban,” the South African Police Service reported.
On 10 February 2026, authorities executed a warrant of arrest and apprehended Mthembu in Mtubatuba. He appeared briefly in the Mtubatuba Magistrate’s Court on 12 February 2026 before being handed over to Gauteng investigators to face charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder.
Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal, praised the cross-provincial cooperation.
“KwaZulu-Natal province is not a hiding place for criminals. We appeal to community members not to harbour criminals but to tip off the police so we can rid society of dangerous offenders,” he said.
“This collaboration is a message to criminals: police will find you even if you flee to another province. There is nowhere to hide from the mighty arm of the law,” Mkhwanazi added.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
