By Crimes Reporter
British citizen Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma wanted for the alleged murders of his wife and two daughters, faces extradition proceedings in Johannesburg after being arrested in Johannesburg .
The police confirmed Zimbabwean-born Ndodana was found in possession of an illegal firearm following his arrest in Johannesburg last week.
SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe disclosed the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where 45-year-old Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma was due to make his first court appearance.
Mathe said Tshuma would appear before the court on two separate matters: extradition proceedings to the UK and a charge of possessing an illegal firearm in South Africa.
“Tshuma will make his first court appearance this morning on two separate matters. The first one being the extradition matter,” she said.
Mathe confirmed that South Africa had received a provisional extradition request from Interpol Manchester through Interpol Pretoria, outlining the allegations against Tshuma relating to the deaths of his wife and two daughters.
“We will be awaiting a full extradition request within 40 days that will include the UK case docket, as well as supporting evidence,” she said.
She added that the second matter before the court relates to the illegal firearm allegedly found in Tshuma’s possession.
“We are told that upon arrival in South Africa, he bought a firearm in one of the townships,” Mathe said.
Zandile Tshuma, 42, and daughters, Nala, 5, and Natalie, 15 were found dead in their home in the UK.
Image: Facebook
She said a separate investigation was under way to establish who sold Tshuma the unlicensed firearm and how he was able to obtain it so easily.
“We are tracing the suspects responsible for selling him this unlicensed firearm,” she said.
Explaining the extradition process, Mathe said the provisional request includes the arrest warrant issued by UK authorities.
“We will be awaiting the full extradition request within 40 days that will include the entire UK case docket, as well as supporting evidence. It will then be up to the court to determine when he will be extradited back to the UK,” she said.
Mathe said SAPS had worked closely with UK authorities through Interpol throughout the investigation.
“We are all Interpol member countries. We share intelligence, we share information, and we assist each other with cross-border and international investigations,” she said.
Asked whether Tshuma had been harboured or assisted while in South Africa, Mathe said investigators had found no evidence to suggest that he had been protected.
“Absolutely not. He was not harboured. We worked closely with different stakeholders, including his family, to apprehend him,” she said.
Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma was tracked down during a joint SAPS and Interpol operation following an international manhunt.
Image: Facebook
Tshuma was arrested in Kensington, Johannesburg, on Friday during a coordinated operation involving the SAPS Interpol National Central Bureau, Crime Intelligence and the Organised Crime Investigation Unit.
UK authorities are seeking his extradition in connection with the deaths of his wife, 42-year-old Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, and their daughters, Natalie, 15, and Nala, 5.
The three victims were found at the family’s home in Great Denham, near Bedford, after police forced entry on Monday following concerns that they had not been seen for several days.
Acting National Commissioner Lt Gen Puleng Dimpane praised the officers involved in the operation, describing the arrest as an example of effective cooperation between specialised SAPS units and international law enforcement partners.
“This arrest demonstrates that South Africa is not a safe haven for fugitives. Anyone who believes they can evade justice by fleeing to our country should know that SAPS will work tirelessly with international law enforcement partners to trace, locate and arrest them,” Dimpane said.
According to Sky News, Tshuma left the UK on Saturday, two days before the bodies were discovered, flying from London Heathrow Airport to Zimbabwe on a British passport.
