KZN pastor gets 18 year sentence for murdering his ex

A lock on a prison cell.

After a four-year delay in bringing his case to court, 46-year-old pastor Musawenkosi Menyuka has been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment by the Mtubatuba Regional Court in KwaZulu-Natal for the murder of his ex-girlfriend.

Thembelihle Nxumalo was found with multiple stab wounds in 2020 after being reported missing at the Mtubatuba Police Station.

Menyuka was arrested the following year after being the last person to have been seen with Nxumalo.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda says for some reason, the case was not enrolled at court and Menyuka was released.

Netshiunda says the provincial murder and robbery unit arrested Menyuka in June last year.

“Despite the state opposing bail, Menyuka was released on R10 000. On the 1^st of December 2025 on the day of his judgment, pastor Menyuka abandoned court proceedings during a recess and a warrant for his arrest was issued. Dedicated investigating officers traced him and was recaptured on 12 January 2026. Eight days later, the court condemned him to 18 years facing prison walls and was declared to unfit to possess a firearm.”