South Africa :Prominent KZN Security Boss Arrested for Murder of Primary School Teacher

Bruce Mhlongo, 52, owner of Njoms Security, a well-known KwaZulu-Natal security firm, was arrested on Thursday for the murder of Thabani Innocent Zondi, a primary school teacher fatally shot in February 2022.

Zondi, 48, was found with multiple gunshot wounds inside his vehicle in the KwaPata area. Police recovered 21 cartridge cases at the scene, linking Mhlongo to the crime through an ongoing investigation by the Provincial Organised Crime Unit.

Mhlongo, who once served as a security operative for the ANC in the 1990s, is also suspected of involvement in other serious violent crimes, including murder and armed robbery in the Pietermaritzburg region.

His company’s firearms have been confiscated for ballistic analysis as authorities probe further into the case.

Following a brief court appearance, Mhlongo was remanded in custody and is expected to apply for bail on October 30, 2025.

The arrest has intensified concerns about the unlawful use of firearms registered to security companies for criminal activities and political assassinations in KwaZulu-Natal.

Police continue their investigations to uncover any additional links to violent crimes involving Mhlongo and his security business.