The High Court of South Africa, Eastern Cape Division, sitting in Burgersdorp, has sentenced a 50-year-old woman, Noxolo Nokuzola Nxilolo (50) and her ex-lover, Mzamo Ciko (42) to life imprisonment for the m8rder of her husband, Sindezama January Nxilolo (65), a traffic officer and moneylender.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
“On 03 July 2017, in Eureka, Burgersdorp, within the Joe Gqabi Magisterial District, the accused conspired with two hired assassins from the Western Cape to m8rder the deceased, who was 50 years old at the time of his death,” the atatent read.
Noxolo was 43 years old at the time and married to the deceased.
The couple’s relationship began in 1999, and they were married in 2002. They had no children.
Noxolo frequently travelled to the Western Cape for fertility treatment, where she met Ciko, who was 35 years old at the time.
The two became romantically involved. Ciko was also married at the time, and his marriage ended when his wife discovered the affair.
The deceased later became aware of the relationship. Evidence presented in court revealed that Noxolo and Ciko decided to k!ll the deceased so that Noxolo could benefit financially, as she stood to forfeit certain benefits should the deceased divorce her.
To carry out their plan, the accused contracted two men from the Western Cape and agreed to pay them to kill the deceased.
One of the hired k!llers, Lungile Ntungwana (44), later reported the incident to the authorities.
He subsequently pleaded guilty to his role in the murder and was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment on 01 September 2021. The second assailant remains at large.
During the execution of the plan, Ciko sourced two firearms and handed them to the hired k!llers.
He transported them in his vehicle from the Western Cape to Burgersdorp and showed them where the deceased lived.
Noxolo’s role was to inform Ciko and the hired killers when the deceased was at home. After receiving a call from her confirming the deceased’s presence, Ciko drove the hired k!llers to the house after nightfall and dropped them off nearby.
The k!llers then called the deceased under the pretence of requesting a cash loan. When he came outside, one of the hired k!llers opened fire, fatally shooting him.
The assailants fled the scene and later split up. One of the k!llers returned with Ciko to the Western Cape, while the second remained behind.
The following day, he visited Noxolo’s home to obtain money for his return trip, which she provided. Upon his return, Ciko paid him his share of the agreed contract fee. The relationship between Noxolo and Ciko ended in 2021.
Following the m8rder and the disclosure by a whistleblower, both accused were arrested and released on bail pending trial.
Arguing for an appropriate sentence, Senior State Advocate Sibusiso Mgenge submitted that the m8rder was carefully planned, executed, and motivated entirely by financial gain.
The court heard that following the death of the deceased, Noxolo benefited more than R920 000 from his pension fund and approximately R320 000 from the sale of their house.
Adv. Mgenge further submitted that Noxolo showed no remorse and, despite seeking a lighter sentence, continued to maintain her innocence throughout the proceedings.
During the aggravation and mitigation stage, she informed the court that she suffers from spinal cord complications, depression since 2018, and high blood pressure.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, including testimony from Ntungwana, Noxolo denied any involvement in the murder.
The State successfully proved that the accused acted in execution of a common purpose and conspired to murder the deceased.
Although there is no permanent High Court in Burgersdorp, the matter was finalised and sentenced in the town as part of a sitting of the High Court of South Africa, allowing residents to witness justice being delivered where the crime occurred.
The accused were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and an additional five years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit m8rder. They were also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Welcoming the sentence and the court’s decision to bring services closer to the community, the Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Barry Madolo, said the outcome demonstrates the justice system’s firm stance against premeditated and contract killings.
“This sentence sends a clear message that those who orchestrate and carry out contract k!llings will face the full might of the law. Bringing the court to the community also reinforces public confidence in the justice system by ensuring that justice is not only done, but seen to be done where the crime occurred,” said Madolo.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence and commends the court for delivering justice in the community where the crime occurred.
“This outcome underscores the NPA’s commitment to ensuring that those who plan and carry out violent crimes for personal gain are held fully accountable. The NPA remains steadfast in its dedication to protecting the rights of victims, upholding the rule of law, and reinforcing public confidence in the justice system,” the statement added.
