JOHANNESBURG — South African authorities have taken a British fugitive into custody after tracking him to the city of Johannesburg, where he had been hiding following the alleged murders of his wife and two young daughters in England.
Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, a British citizen originally from Zimbabwe, was apprehended in the Johannesburg neighborhood of Kensington. The arrest was the result of an intelligence-driven operation carried out jointly by Interpol and South African law enforcement.
British investigators had been searching for Tshuma in connection with the deaths of his wife, Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and the couple’s two daughters — 15-year-old Natalie and 5-year-old Nala. The three victims were found dead inside the family’s home located near Bedford, north of London.
Acting National Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Puleng Dimpane stated that the successful arrest highlights South Africa’s commitment to working with law enforcement agencies around the world to bring fugitives to justice.
“This arrest demonstrates that South Africa is not a safe haven for fugitives,” Dimpane said. “Anyone who believes they can evade justice by fleeing to our country should know that (the South African Police Service) will work tirelessly with international law enforcement partners to trace, locate and arrest them.”
Police spokesperson Brig. Athlenda Mathe confirmed that authorities will move forward with the required legal and extradition procedures in coordination with officials in the United Kingdom. While Britain and South Africa do have an extradition agreement in place, Tshuma must first go through the South African court system before he can be transferred to British custody.
Sources with knowledge of the case said the identity of Tshuma’s legal representation is expected to be revealed once the matter is formally called before a court. Tshuma is set to make his first court appearance in South Africa this coming Monday.
