UPDATE: A Man and Contract Killers Sentenced to Life for Insurance Payout Murder of Brother

04 April 2025

UPDATE: A Man and Contract Killers Sentenced to Life for Insurance Payout Murder of Brother

The High Court of South Africa, Eastern Cape Division, sitting in East London, sentenced Lizo Ntshoko (50), as well as assassins Zuko Ngudlane (32) and Xolisa Galala Ngxeke (38), to life imprisonment for the murder of Lizo’s older brother, Patrick Ntshoko (62). Lizo hired the two men to kill his brother to cash in on two policies amounting to R260 000. All the offenders are from the same neighbourhood of Nompulelo Township near Beacon Bay in East London.

Before the murder of his brother, Lizo took him to Capitec bank at Beacon Bay, where they revived the account of the deceased that was inactive. He then made the deceased take a funeral policy of R100 000 in his name and made himself, Lizo, the beneficiary. He was in full control of this savings account of the deceased, as he would make deposits in the account to make sure that there was money for the funeral policy premium. He also had his funeral policy, where he also insured the deceased for R30 000.

Lizo then arranged for his brother, fondly known as “Nongalwana” as he had one arm due to a car accident he was involved in, to be killed to pocket R260 000, as both benefits doubled because the deceased died due to unnatural causes. He did not disclose the policies to his siblings and did not contribute to the burial of the deceased. He paid the assassins R10 000 when the policies paid out after three days from the day of the death. Nongalwana died from multiple stab wounds inflicted by the two hitmen after he was lured by Lizo to a secluded open area near Bonza Bay, following a night out drinking on 13 April 2023.

During the trial, all three men pleaded not guilty. Even though there were no eyewitnesses, State Advocate Luvuyo Vena led the evidence of nine witnesses, two of whom are the sisters of both the deceased and the accused. The state relied on circumstantial evidence and admissions made by Ngudlane to his girlfriend, as well as confessions made by Ngxeke to his family after they confronted him following rumours in the locality that he was involved in the killing of the deceased.

At the sentencing stage, it transpired that the murder had split the Ntshoko family into two, with some believing that Lizo is guilty, whilst others believed in his innocence. The court heard that the deceased, who depended on a state social grant, exhibited generosity as he ceded a rental income from the shacks on his property to Lizo, who in turn unremorsefully killed him. Ngudlane was out on parole as he was sentenced to ten years in 2016 for murder, when he reoffended. The court agreed with the state that all three could not be rehabilitated.

Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Barry Madolo, welcomed the sentence, emphasising that it sends a strong message regarding the seriousness with which the killings of unsuspecting relatives for insurance benefits are treated by the court.

Issued by:
Luxolo Tyali
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Eastern Cape Division
Tel: 047 501 2630
Cell: 073 555 9292
Email: ltyali@npa.gov.za

Court update

Five additional suspects , four men and one woman in a Capitec fraud case appeared before the Emalahleni Magistrates' Court today on charges of fraud , corruption , forgery, uttering and money laundering .

Ellias Mbalekwa Jiyane (57), William Vezi Jiyane (46), Sifiso Shekwa (29), Lucky Mkhabela (35) and Patricia Nqobile Nkosi (25 ) were arrested between 09 and 10 April 2025 by the members of the Provincial Commercial Crime and Tracking Team on a Capitec Bank Operation in Mpumalanga and Gauteng.Their arrest is linked to a syndicate that allegedly applied for loans and credit cards using fraudulent documents.

The accused remained in custody and the matter was postponed to 24 April 2025 for a formal bail application.

Ends .