‘I WARNED SIPHO AGAINST KILLING VICTOR’

MBABANE - It has emerged that the late Victor Gamedze and Sipho Shongwe allegedly consulted the same prophet on football-related matters.

The prophet, who is also a Zionist Church leader at Ebuka in Ezulwini, Sifiso Mbhalo Hlophe, yesterday informed the court that Shongwe allegedly told him that he could remove Gamedze within two minutes and surrender himself to the police.

Hlophe alleged that he warned Gamedze that he would not live to see January 15, 2019 because he would be shot. However, he said Gamedze was adamant that nothing would happen to him.
The prophet said he did not tell Gamedze that Shongwe had allegedly said something about removing him within minutes because all he believed in was the spirit. 

This was during the continuation of Shongwe’s murder trial at the High Court. The matter is heard by Judge Nkosinathi Maseko.
Both Gamedze and Shongwe were football administrators and businessmen of note. Shongwe has been charged with the murder of Gamedze, who was shot in cold blood on January 14, 2018 at the Galp Filling Station in Ezulwini.

Evidence

Hlophe was the 28th witness to give evidence in the matter. He informed the court that on different dates, he was allegedly consulted by the duo for assistance before their teams, Mbabane Swallows F.C. and Matsapha United, played certain games.

When he was led in evidence by Advocate Michael Hellens, Hlophe submitted that he knew Shongwe and had discussions with him on football issues. He alleged that he prepared something to make his team, Matsapha United, win their upcoming games.

The advocate asked what winning a football match had to do with the prophet. Hlophe informed the court that he allegedly prepared a mixture of water and sand, which he defined as siwasho, for Shongwe’s team. He said the purpose of the mixture was to bring luck for the team to win matches.

Advocate Hellens also enquired if Hlophe rendered his services when Matsapha United played against Mbabane Swallows and he said that was taken care of in advance. He submitted that Shongwe allegedly consulted him only on two occasions.  The advocate then sought to find out if during the consultation by Shongwe, the name of Gamedze ever came up. Hlophe alleged that Shongwe mentioned Gamedze’s name.

The advocate asked in what context was Gamedze’s name mentioned and Hlophe responded that the accused (Shongwe) allegedly told him that he was not happy with the manner Gamedze managed the Premier League of Eswatini and that his conduct was not right.

Hlophe stated that Shongwe allegedly said Gamedze did not know that he could remove him within two minutes and hand himself over to the police.
In his statement under oath, he said; “He then told me that he could shoot Victor in two minutes. I told him that was not the right thing to do since I was also not safe now because he could also do that to me.”

Interpretation

The advocate asked what removing Gamedze meant and he said that depended on one’s interpretation. He told the court that Shongwe did not explain what he meant when he said he could remove Gamedze within minutes.
These are allegations whose veracity is yet to be tested in court.

Hlophe informed the court that he was shocked by what Shongwe said and submitted that he never spoke to the accused again. He submitted that he decided to distance himself from Shongwe because his interpretation that he could remove Gamedze was that he would kill him. The Zionist said he did not hear from Shongwe afterwards.

The prophet said months after meeting Shongwe, Gamedze came to him before Mbabane Swallows played against Manzini Wanderers. Hlophe submitted that they met at Happy Valley Hotel in Ezuwlini where they discussed the game. The purpose of Gamedze’s visit, according to Hlophe, was that he wanted to know how his team would play and what the people he had sent to make consultations elsewhere about the game had established.

Advised

Hlophe informed the court that he advised that the people Gamedze had sent to make consultations about the game should have also checked how things would go with him (Gamedze) personally.

“I then advised him that an accident would befall him. I told him that he would be shot,” said Hlophe.
Advocate Hellens asked the prophet how he knew that Gamedze would be shot.
Hlophe simply said; “Ngekukamoya (through the spirit).”

The advocate went on to ask if Hlophe knew when the shooting would happen and he said he informed Gamedze that he would not live to see the Monday of the week in which he was gunned down.

The advocate also wanted to know what Gamedze did when foretold about the shooting. Hlophe said Gamedze sighed. Ironically, Hlophe, who allegedly foretold Gamedze’s shooting, was present at the Galp Filling Station when the businessman was shot dead.

Hlophe submitted that on the day of the shooting, he was in church until minutes before 6pm when he and some congregants decided to go to the hot springs (Manzana) for cleansing purposes.

The prophet told the court that he was driving a BMW sedan and they went via the filling station to purchase bread and soft drinks at the convenience store. He said Gamedze’s vehicle was parked at the filling station and he was inside the convenience store. Hlophe submitted that he saw Sicelo ‘Dzodzo’ Zikalala/Luthango at the filling station. He alleged that ‘Dzodzo’ pulled out a cellphone and moved towards Gamedze’s vehicle.

The prophet told the court that ‘Dzodzo’ allegedly placed the cellphone on his ear and kept making gestures with his other hand as if pointing while he stood next to Gamedze’s car.
According to Hlophe, Gamedze emerged from the store walking side by a side a Mbabane Swallows fan he was in a conversation with. The Zionist submitted that he got into his car and when he was about to drive away, he heard two gunshots in quick succession.

Gunshots

He told the court that before the gunshots rang, he allegedly saw a slim man who walked past ‘Dzodzo’ as Gamedze came out of the store and then he heard the gunfire.
Hlophe alleged that ‘Dzodzo’ and the slim man ran towards the bus station where there was a waiting room and the pair jumped into a red VW Golf which sped towards the Mbabane direction.
The prophet submitted that he knew ‘Dzodzo’ from Solani’s Shisanyama and that he was aware that he owned a red VW Golf car. The trial continues today.

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