‘Putin’, was found hiding in Midrand on Tuesday afternoon.
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) police have made a major breakthrough and arrested a wanted suspected murderer and extortionist who has been dodging the law for years.
Linda Hlongwa, who is commonly known as ‘Mjinja’ or ‘Putin’ was arrested in Midrand on Tuesday by KZN police working hand in glove with their Gauteng counterparts.
Evading the law
KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said ‘Mjinja’ has been on the loose since July 2020, when he failed to appear in court.
“He was facing charges of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. Police were also looking for him in connection with the double murder of his girlfriend and her mother, who was shot and killed in Pinetown in March 2025.”
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Extortion
Netshiunda said ‘Mjinja’ is also believed to have been extorting money from scholar transport owners, tuckshop owners, and local taxis in the areas of Mariannhill and the nearby townships.
“Police in KwaZulu-Natal are thankful to community members who provided valuable information which led to the arrest of ‘Mjinja’, the self-proclaimed lion. Anyone who fell victim of ‘Mjinja’ is urged to go to the nearest police station and open a case so that justice can be served.”
KZN shootouts
On Monday, South African Police Services (Saps) commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi announced that a total of 105 suspects had been killed in 38 shootouts with officers in the first nine months of the past financial year.
Mkhwanazi said the suspects who were killed during the shootout were linked to murders, extortion, armed robberies, cash-in-transit (CIT) heists and other crimes.
The commissioner also revealed that from April to December 2024, at least 4 278 people were killed in KZN, a decrease of 11% compared to the same period last year, during which 4 836 people were killed.
Mkhwanazi also revealed that from April to December 2024, a total of 144 392 suspects were arrested, with 11,628 of those being undocumented foreign nationals.
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