The Presidential Protection Unit officer Sergeant Sanele Dlamini who was gunned down near his home in Newtown C, in Inanda, north of Durban while off duty in April last year. He had recently completed a VIP Protection course at the time of his killing. Two suspects will appear on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 and on Friday, March 20, 2026, at the Ntuzuma Magistrate's Court in relation to his killing.
Image: FILE
The case relating to the fatal shooting of a police officer attached to the elite Presidential Protection Unit in Inanda, north of Durban, has been postponed to Friday.
Sergeant Sanele Dlamini, 37, from Newtown A in Inanda, was gunned down by unknown assailants on the evening of April 8, last year. His service pistol was stolen during the attack.
According to spokesperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, popularly known as the Hawks, Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo, the latest suspect, Kwanele Khatheni, 27, was arrested last Wednesday and made his first appearance in the Ntuzuma Magistrates Court on Friday.
Mhlongo said that on the day of the incident, Dlamini, who was off duty at the time, had parked his vehicle near a fuel station on Mafukuzela Drive, opposite a tuck shop in Newtown C, in the notorious Inanda township.
“While waiting for his turn to be served, he was attacked. He managed to draw his service pistol and fired several shots at the attackers. One of the suspects shot Dlamini and managed to take his pistol,” said Mhlongo.
Dlamini, who was in his police uniform was rushed to hospital in his vehicle but was declared dead on arrival. He had recently completed his VIP protection course after years of service in the protection unit.
A murder case was subsequently opened at Inanda police station, prompting the Hawks to launch an investigation.
“It later emerged that one of the suspects had been taken to a local clinic for treatment. When police arrived, they placed him under police guard. The suspect was identified as Ntuthuko Nzama, 27,” said Mhlongo.
Nzama appeared in the Ntuzuma Magistrates Court shortly after being discharged from the clinic and remains in custody.
He is expected to appear in court again on Wednesday. His co-accused, Khatheni, is expected to apply for bail when the matter returns to court on Friday.
Dlamini's killing prompted Inanda community members to stage a march, which was well attended, where they demanded increased police visibility and deployment in the gangs and guns-infested township.
Dlamini was laid to rest in his hometown of Ixopo, in south-western KwaZulu-Natal.