Durban
1Min
South Africa
Nov 20, 2025
A Durban magistrate has denied bail to Kholwani Prayman Ntanjana, accused of masterminding an attempted hit on SARS advocate Coreth Naude. The court found his affidavit unreliable and said his history of withdrawn violent charges showed he could not be trusted if released. The case returns to court in January.
The Durban Magistrate's Court on Thursday denied bail to Kholwani Prayman Ntanjana, the man accused of orchestrating an attempted assassination on SARS advocate Coreth Naude, ruling that his release would pose a danger to the public.
Ntanjana is alleged to be the mastermind behind the attempted killing of Naude, who was targeted outside the Premier Hotel in Umhlanga last year while working on a high-profile SARS tax inquiry. The inquiry is linked to the business interests of Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize and her son, placing the case in a politically sensitive and high-stakes environment.
Delivering the decision, Magistrate Quim de Freitas said Ntanjana had failed to convince the court that he could be trusted, noting his troubling history and the absence of credible evidence to support his claim of being a legitimate businessman.
The magistrate highlighted that more than eight previous charges against Ntanjana, including murder and hijacking, had been withdrawn over the years. He described this history as deeply concerning, saying it suggested a pattern of behaviour inconsistent with someone seeking the court’s confidence.
De Freitas added that Ntanjana had not presented himself as an individual who contributes positively to society and said the court could not overlook the violent nature of the case before it.
The court also dismissed Ntanjana’s affidavit as vague and unreliable. He claimed to be involved in a taxi business operating in both Gauteng and the Western Cape and to own a coastal property valued at about R1.5 million. However, none of these claims were backed by documentation or coherent explanations. The magistrate said Ntanjana gave inconsistent accounts of his income, his property and even his primary residence, describing his statements as evasive and lacking detail.
Two of Ntanjana’s co-accused, Siyanda Emmanuel Mbulwana and Mcebisi Runeyi, have already been indicted in the Durban High Court for their alleged involvement in the attempted murder. The state argues that the plot against Naude was planned and resourced by Ntanjana, making him the central figure in the case.
Magistrate de Freitas ordered that Ntanjana remain in custody while investigations continue. The matter has been postponed to 16 January, when the court will reconvene to assess the progress of the case and determine the next steps in the prosecution.
