Wife and Ex-Lover Get Life for Burgersdorp Contract Killing

BURGERSDORP – The High Court of South Africa, Eastern Cape Division, sitting in Burgersdorp, has sentenced a wife and her former lover to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of her husband in a contract killing that took place in 2017.

Noxolo Nokuzola Nxilolo (50) and Mzamo Ciko (42) were convicted for the murder of Sindezama January Nxilolo, a traffic officer and moneylender, who was killed outside his home in Eureka, Burgersdorp, on 3 July 2017.

The court also imposed an additional five-year sentence on each accused for conspiracy to commit murder and declared both unfit to possess a firearm.

Murder Plot Driven by Financial Motive

Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Nxilolo and Ciko had conspired to kill the deceased after beginning a romantic relationship.

At the time, Noxolo Nxilolo was married to the victim. The couple had been in a relationship since 1999 and married in 2002. Court proceedings heard that she later met Ciko while travelling to the Western Cape for fertility treatment, where the two began an affair.

According to evidence before the court, the pair decided to kill the deceased so that Noxolo Nxilolo could benefit financially. Prosecutors said she stood to lose certain financial benefits if the marriage ended in divorce.

The two accused allegedly recruited two hired killers from the Western Cape and agreed to pay them to carry out the murder.

Contract Killers Brought to Burgersdorp

During the execution of the plan, Ciko sourced two firearms and transported the hired killers from the Western Cape to Burgersdorp in his vehicle.

He then showed them where the victim lived.

The court heard that Noxolo Nxilolo’s role in the plan was to inform the conspirators when her husband was at home. After receiving confirmation from her, Ciko drove the hired killers to the area after nightfall and dropped them off near the house.

The attackers allegedly called the victim outside under the pretence of requesting a loan.

When he came out of the house, one of the gunmen opened fire, fatally shooting him.

The killers fled the scene immediately after the shooting.

Whistleblower Exposed the Plot

One of the hired killers, Lungile Ntungwana (44), later reported the crime to authorities.

Ntungwana pleaded guilty to his role in the murder and was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment in September 2021.

The second assailant has not yet been arrested and remains at large.

Court evidence showed that after the murder, one of the gunmen travelled back to the Western Cape with Ciko, while the other remained behind and later visited Noxolo Nxilolo’s home to obtain money for his return trip.

Upon his return to the Western Cape, he received his share of the agreed contract payment from Ciko.

The relationship between Nxilolo and Ciko later ended in 2021.

Financial Benefit After Husband’s Death

During sentencing arguments, Senior State Advocate Sibusiso Mgenge told the court that the murder had been carefully planned and motivated purely by financial gain.

The court heard that following the victim’s death, Noxolo Nxilolo received more than R920 000 from his pension fund and approximately R320 000 from the sale of their house.

Prosecutors further submitted that she showed no remorse during the proceedings and continued to deny involvement in the killing despite the evidence presented.

During mitigation, Nxilolo told the court she suffers from spinal cord complications, depression and high blood pressure.

Justice Delivered in the Community

The matter was finalised during a sitting of the High Court held in Burgersdorp, despite the town not having a permanent High Court.

The Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, welcomed the sentence and said the outcome demonstrated the justice system’s stance against contract killings.

He said the sentence sends a clear message that those who plan and carry out murder for personal gain will face the full consequences of the law.

The National Prosecuting Authority also welcomed the ruling, stating that it reinforces its commitment to holding perpetrators of violent crimes accountable and ensuring justice for victims.