LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDERER 

28 NOVEMBER 2025 

LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDERER 

The Nquthu Regional Court has sentenced Senzo Langa to life imprisonment for the murder of a 66-year-old man in the Manzamnyama area of Nquthu in January 2024. Langa knew the deceased as they lived in the same area. 

Prior to the incident, Langa’s family had received lobola cattle for a family member. When the cattle went missing, Langa suspected the deceased, Dumisani Ngcobo. Langa searched for the cattle for several days, to no avail. Langa then concluded that the cattle were taken by Ngcobo, and he (Langa) was going to address the situation, together with an accomplice. 

On the day of the incident, they armed themselves with knobkerries and went to the river where Ngcobo was bathing. Langa severely assaulted Ngcobo, and his accomplice also struck Ngcobo when he saw that Langa was being overpowered. When the accomplice left the scene Langa continued the assault and eventually left Ngcobo at the river. Ngcobo was later found dead, bleeding from his head and body. The matter was reported to the police and Langa and his accomplice fled the area. They were eventually traced by the police and arrested. 

In court, Prosecutor Dan Motha led the evidence of Langa’s accomplice (who had turned state witness), Langa’s cousin who had given Langa and his accomplice traditional medicine to cleanse themselves, as well as the investigating officer. Ngcobo’s son testified in aggravation of the sentence. He said that he had found his father’s body at the river and the image will stay in his mind forever. He further added that his father’s murder was senseless because the cattle eventually returned home. In addition to the life sentence, Langa was declared unfit to possess a firearm. 

The NPA welcomes the successful finalisation of the matter. Members of the community are urged not to take the law into their own hands but rather to approach the authorities for assistance in resolving problems. 

Issued by: 

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara 

NPA Regional Spokesperson 

KZN Division 

071 6700 229