KwaZulu-Natal police have confirmed the arrest of Bruce Mhlongo, a well-known Pietermaritzburg businessman and owner of a private security company, in connection with the 2022 murder of a local primary school teacher.
The 42-year-old suspect was taken into custody earlier this week following an intensive investigation that linked him to the fatal shooting of the educator, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed pending family notification.
According to News24 reports, the arrest came after months of evidence-gathering and witness interviews that tied Bruce Mhlongoto the crime. P
rovincial police spokesperson Colonel Nqobile Gwala said investigators had been working on the case since 2022 but only recently obtained sufficient evidence to proceed with an arrest.
“The suspect was traced to his business premises in Pietermaritzburg and taken in for questioning. He has since been charged with murder,” Gwala confirmed.
Police sources revealed that Mhlongo’s name first surfaced during the early stages of the investigation, but it took time to connect him directly to the crime. Investigators believe he may have had a personal or financial motive for targeting the victim, though they have not yet confirmed the exact nature of their relationship.
Detectives are also looking into reports that the suspect may have hired intermediaries to carry out the attack, which took place near the teacher’s home in Imbali Township in late 2022.
Mhlongo, known in the city for his security operations that service several corporate and residential clients, appeared briefly in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
The courtroom was filled with community members and colleagues of the victim, some of whom expressed relief at the progress of the case. The matter was postponed to allow further police investigation and for Mhlongo’s legal team to prepare a bail application.
Police have not ruled out the possibility of additional arrests, saying the investigation is ongoing.
“We believe more individuals were involved, and we are following several strong leads,” said Gwala.
Residents of the area have described the teacher as a well-liked figure who had taught at the same primary school for more than a decade. Her death in 2022 shocked the local community and prompted renewed calls for better protection for educators, particularly those working in high-crime areas.
While Mhlongo has not entered a plea, police confirmed that forensic evidence and witness statements form part of the case against him. The State is expected to oppose bail when the hearing resumes next week.
