FRIDAY, 3.00PM
ONE of the country’s most wanted men was arrested on Friday morning in connection with a series of murders and other acts of violence in the Richmond area of KwaZulu-Natal, police said. Spokesman Director Reg Crewe confirmed that Skumbuza Patrick Ndlovu, 30, known in the Richmond area as “Comrade Bob”, was arrested at a house in KwaDengezi in the Pinetown area at about 9am.
Superintendent Henry Budhram said Ndlovu was surprised by a contingent of policemen backed up by soldiers while he was washing. Budhram said he tried to flee but was quickly caught and taken into custody. He is expected to appear in court in Pietermaritzburg on Friday. Another man was also arrested on the scene but it has not yet been established if he was being sought for any of the offences allegedly committed by Ndlovu. The man had an injury which he appeared to have received before Friday’s arrest.
Crewe said SANDF members were combing the area in which Ndlovu was arrested in search for weapons.
Ndlovu has been on the run from the police for months and has proved highly elusive. He was wanted in connection with a number of political assassinations in the Richmond area in the past few years. A reward of R200 000 was being offered for his arrest. Crewe said police had acted on information received about Ndlovu’s whereabouts so there will most likely be a claim for the reward.