Ex-DA Councilor sentenced to four life terms in prison

Former Democratic Alliance (DA) PR Councillor Michael Buthelezi was found guilty and sentenced to four terms of life imprisonment by the Ladysmith Regional Court on Friday, 30 May 2025 after he was found guilty of killing his parter and three children at his house in Bergville in October 2023.

He was also sentenced to a further 15 years in jail for two counts of defeating the ends of justice and arson.

The court heard that Buthelezi burnt his partner Khombisile Nyoka (41), his 12-year-old daughter Lubanzi Buthelezi, his son Zigizemdoda Buthelezi (9) and 2-year-old last born daughter Sibingele Buthelezi all alive by setting alight a two-roomed house they were sleeping in.

The now convicted killer miraculously survived that ravaging fire with minor burn wounds and claimed that he was attacked because of his stance in the fight against corruption.

The Political Killings Task Team took over the investigations but his tune took a dramatic turn when he later accused his partner’s ex-boyfriend of throwing a bomb inside the house.

Thorough police investigations proved that Buthelezi single-handedly killed his family and overwhelming evidence convinced the court to hand down maximum sentence.

The Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has praised the investigating team for uncovering the truth and debunking claims that the murders were politically motivated.

“It takes dedication and paying attention to every detail to detect untruths from purported victims and we applaud our investigators for digging out facts and present strong evidence before the court.

“It is our aim to solve every murder case and sentences of this nature are the expected reward for cases well investigated”, said Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi.