Inmate allegedly masterminds Durban teacher’s murder; 2 Arrested

Three months after a teacher was shot dead at a Durban school, two suspects—a shooter and a spotter—have been arrested.

An inmate is believed to be the mastermind behind the murder.

Dudu Khumalo, 46, was killed on July 29 inside Phikiswayo Primary School in Ntuzuma.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda stated that when Khumalo was murdered, a man entered the school asking to see her.

He then approached Khumalo and shot her multiple times before fleeing. Khumalo was pronounced dead at the scene.

“After police determined that she may have been targeted because she was a witness in a case involving an inmate at Westville prison, the case was handed to the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes unit,” Netshiunda said.

Detectives from this unit arrested two suspects, aged 36 and 41, who have been positively linked to the murder.

“Police have so far connected the inmate as the mastermind behind the murder, and the actual shooter and spotter were arrested on Thursday, October 24, 2024,” Netshiunda explained.

“Further investigations revealed that on Friday, October 25, 2024, a firearm believed to have been used in the murder was found at the home of the suspected shooter, along with the jacket he wore during the crime.”

“Preliminary investigations have shown that the firearm was stolen from its licensed owner during a robbery at Sherwood in Sydenham in April 2023.”

Netshiunda added that the suspects will appear in Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court on Monday, October 28, 2024, facing charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

The incarcerated suspect will also face charges and will appear in court in due course.

Following Khumalo’s murder, various motives were suggested, including police claims that she was a witness.

A source close to the Daily News, who visited the school on the day of the murder, alleged that Khumalo had been a witness to another murder, which may have led to her killing.

Earlier this month, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube outlined safety measures for schools following Khumalo’s murder.

Gwarube mentioned that a safety officer at the school recommended strengthening access control policies and implementing a “by appointment only” system to ensure the security guard could verify the identities of visitors.

Currently, the school allows parents to enter freely, which enabled the suspects to pose as parents to gain access to the premises.

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