Home | News | 16 CROWN WITNESSES, SPEEDY TRIAL FOR NTUTHUKO

16 CROWN WITNESSES, SPEEDY TRIAL FOR NTUTHUKO

28/01/2021 23:57:00 BY MBONGISENI NDZIMANDZE

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MBABANE – The Crown will parade 16 witnesses to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt against former LaMgabhi Member of Parliament Ntuthuko Dlamini.

The list of the witnesses is contained in the indictment that has been filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Sandile Dlamini.

The former minister of Public Works and Transport is facing two charges of murder, attempted murder and violating the Arms and Ammunition Act and has been in custody since September 9, 2020.

Ntuthuko has spent three months in custody after allegedly shooting and killing Andreas Tsabedze and former police officer Sikhulu Shongwe in cold blood at Mhlabubovu.

Shooting

He also stands accused of attempting to end the life of Simon Dlamini by shooting him three times with a pistol.

The incident occurred at Mhlabubovu Traffic Circle, which leads to Bhunya and Mankayane, near the former minister’s shopping complex.

Mhlabubovu is the land under dispute between LaMgabhi and Luyengweni chiefdoms, whose traditional leaders are the late Chief Ndzimanye Dlamini and Chief Lembelele Dlamini respectively.

Among the State witnesses are the three men who were with Ntuthuko when he allegedly committed the offences.

One of the men is Derrick Maziya. This witness will state that on September 7, 2020 at about 11:30am while at his home, he received a call from one make Gamedze. He will state that in the conversation, make Gamedze was informing him about people of Luyengweni Chiefdom who were allocating land at a Zulu homestead, which was under LaMgabhi.

He will further state that upon noticing this together with Muzi Zulu and Sipho Matsenjwa, they proceeded to LaMgabhi Complex to report the matter to Ntuthuko.

In his evidence, Derrick alleged that after reporting to Ntuthuko, they all got into his car and proceeded to where the people were.

He submitted that upon arrival, Ntuthuko allegedly told the people to leave the place as it belonged to Chief Ndzimanye. Ntuthuko, according to Derrick, then asked Ginindza, who is Indvuna of Luyengweni, why he was ignoring the regional administrator’s offices and bringing people to LaMgabhi for kukhonta, but he did not reply.

Derrick will further reveal that it was then that Ntuthuko allegedly said he could not talk to ‘timfucuta’, but only his cousin Mkhabela. He said one of those present, Sihle Mduduzi Dlamini, did not take kindly to being called ‘imfucuta’ and they ended up pushing and shoving each other with Ntuthuko.

He said while the accused was arguing with Sihle, Simon Dlamini stood up carrying a knobkerrie and that led to Ntuthuko allegedly shooting him in his hand. This witness will highlight that Sikhulu Shongwe (deceased) then opened fire to calm the situation, but the accused allegedly turned back and shot him (Shongwe) in the chest and he fell down. He alleged that was when Tsabedze (deceased), who was not carrying any weapon, stood up and advanced to the accused. Ntuthuko allegedly shot Tsabedze in the chest too. This witness will further narrate that after shooting Tsabedze, the accused allegedly proceeded to Shongwe who was already lying on the ground and shot him in the neck to finish him off. He would state that after finishing off Shongwe, the accused allegedly then took his (Shongwe) firearm and went to Bhunya Police Station.

Bhunya Station Commander, who purportedly received a call from the former minister before he committed the offence, is also one of the witnesses who will be paraded by the State during the trial.

Meanwhile, the former minister will soon have his day in court.

This comes after Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala gave consent that he should be indicated summarily in the High Court.

Following the consent by the chief justice, the DPP has since filed an indictment at the High Court, which is as an indication that the Crown is ready to prosecute the accused. This means that the he will get a speedy trial.

The former minister will soon be called for a pre-trial conference where he is among other things expected to indicate his pleas in all the charges he is facing.

A pre-trial conference is a meeting of the parties to a case conducted prior to trial. The conference is held before the trial judge or a magistrate, a judicial officer who possesses fewer judicial powers than a judge. A pre-trial conference may be held prior to trial in both civil and criminal cases.

In his bail application, Ntuthuko averred that he was innocent of the charges against him as he never committed them.