Ladysmith Family's Agony as Missing UKZN Student Found Buried in Boyfriend's Yard
Durban – The family of Simphiwe Zinhle Mchunu, a 23-year-old final-year teaching student at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), are enduring unimaginable grief after her body was discovered buried in the yard of her rented home in Umlazi. Mchunu, originally from Ladysmith, had been missing since 22 November, sparking a desperate search by her family and friends.
The grim discovery was made on 19 December after police arrested Mchunu's boyfriend, 22-year-old Themba Xaba, in Bergville. Xaba had allegedly fled to Bergville after leaving Ladysmith, with Mchunu's mobile phones still in his possession.
According to a relative, who asked not to be named, the family's ordeal began when Xaba contacted Mchunu's sister, suggesting they "shouldn't be surprised if anything had happened to her." He claimed that Mchunu had left their rented home following an argument, packing only "three pants into a large suitcase." However, her mobile phones and bank card remained with him, raising immediate suspicions.
Mchunu's friends in Durban were the first to report her missing, prompting her family to travel from Ladysmith to join the search. Upon arrival, they meticulously combed through the yard of the rented home she shared with Xaba.
"The sandy soil made it difficult to notice anything. It had rained, and the sand was covering everything, so we didn’t notice anything," the relative explained, highlighting the heartbreaking reality that they were unknowingly walking over Mchunu's body as they searched.
Initially, Xaba claimed that Mchunu had left after a fight. However, growing suspicious of his inconsistent story and the fact that Mchunu's belongings remained with him, the family hired a private investigator after feeling that the police were initially unresponsive.
Under mounting pressure, Xaba allegedly confessed to the crime last week, according to the relative. "He admitted to killing Zinhle, claiming it was a mistake and that she had slipped. He revealed he had buried her body in a suitcase in the yard," the relative said.
Police confirmed the arrest and the discovery of Mchunu's body. "Police have arrested a 22-year-old man for murder following an incident in which a 23-year-old woman was allegedly killed and buried by a man known to her," said Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo.
Further investigation revealed that Xaba had allegedly deleted WhatsApp chats between himself and Mchunu from her mobile phones from November, further solidifying the case against him.
The family's anguish is compounded by the fact that they have not yet been able to see Mchunu's body, as DNA testing is still pending. "The family is now seeking a private forensic [pathologist] to do the DNA for the speedy release of Zinhle’s body," the relative explained, desperate to bring their daughter home and lay her to rest.
The tragedy extends beyond Mchunu's death, as she leaves behind a three-year-old daughter. "She has a three-year-old child, a girl. The child often asks about her mother and when she will return," the relative said, highlighting the devastating impact on the young child.
Mchunu was described as "a kind and loving person" who was on the cusp of graduating from her teaching studies, a dream that was tragically cut short.
Xaba appeared in the Umlazi Magistrate’s Court on Monday, and the matter was postponed to 26 January 2026 for his bail application.
This tragic case bears a chilling resemblance to the disappearance and murder of Ayabonga Mjilo, 23, around the same time last year. Mjilo's body was found buried in a makeshift grave in the yard of her former work manager, Mfanafuthi Kunene, who allegedly confessed to the crime. Kunene will face trial for her murder and kidnapping next year in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban. Mjilo also left behind a young son, aged four. These cases highlight the ongoing issue of violence against women in South Africa and the devastating impact on families and communities.
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