SIPHO MURDER TRIAL: BID TO BRING 3RD SA WITNESS TO TESTIFY

MBABANE – The prosecution is reportedly working around the clock to bring another South African to testify in the murder trial of Sipho Shongwe.

It has been reliably gathered that the witness, who cannot be mentioned for now, will corroborate part of the evidence presented by accomplice witness Mbuso ‘Ncaza’ Nkosi. The Crown has so far led 47 witnesses, the last being Nkosi, who narrated how he was purportedly  coerced, intimidated and threatened by Shongwe to kill astute businessman and football administrator Victor Gamedze. According to a source close to the matter, through mutual legal assistance (MLA), the prosecution is currently working closely with its South African counterparts to bring the witness who will be the third South African national to testify in the matter.

Witness

“After this witness, the Crown will close its case and Shongwe will be called upon to present his case,” said the impeccable source. According to the source, the witness, who the Crown intends to parade, will presumably connect the dots in the matter and is very crucial for the prosecution’s case. The name of the witness who the Crown intends to call will not be mentioned for now until the prosecution has secured his/her attendance. During the hearing of the trial, Advocate Laurence Hodes, who is representing Shongwe, made a hue and cry that the Crown was hiding some things from them. Advocate Hodes told Judge Nkosinathi Maseko that they were not aware that Nkosi would take to the witness stand instead they were ready to cross examine the investigator.

It was further his submission that during the pre-trial conference, the prosecution indicated that they would lead 33 witnesses but they were now at 47. When the matter returns on June 27, the defence  led by Advocate Hodes will cross-examine the lead investigator in the case, Senior Superintendent Sikhumbuzo Fakudze. Senior Superintendent Fakudze’s cross-examination had to be stood down on January 10, 2022 after the Crown moved an application that Nkosi should be allowed to take to the stand instead of continuing with the cross- examination.
Meanwhile, emotions got the better of Nkosi last Monday when he narrated to the court how he shot Gamedze.

Confidence

At the beginning of his testimony, Nkosi was calm and exuded confidence as he went about telling the court about the events that led to the murder of Gamedze. As he explained what happened at Ezulwini Galp Filling Station on January 14, 2018, the day Gamedze was shot in cold blood, he spoke is a low voice and his face dropped. Nkosi is the one who pulled the trigger on Gamedze on the fateful day. He was giving his much-awaited evidence as an accomplice witness before Judge Nkosinathi Maseko. He told the court that he, in the company of his countryman, who was also an accomplice witness, Siphiwe ‘Tata’ Ngubane and Sandile ‘Dzodzo’ Zikalala/Luthango, followed Gamedze from Somhlolo National Stadium where Mbabane Swallows played against Manzini Wanderers.

Nkosi also alleged that Shongwe’s wife, Vuyiswa and his son, Sifiso, offered him E300 000 to change his statement in the murder case. It was further his evidence that Shongwe was allegedly not the only one who was involved in the plot to kill Victor Gamedze. In his evidence-in-chief, Nkosi said ‘Dzodzo’ told him that four other people, who were dangerous, were involved in the plan to murder the businessman and football administrator. The names of the four people mentioned by ‘Dzodzo’ were one Sthofen, Mike, Mamba and Zakes. However, he did not mention any surnames but only referred to the other person as Mamba. Last year, Ngubane told the court that while Nkosi and ‘Dzodzo’ had gone out, leaving him alone at the guest house in which they were lodged in Mbabane, four well-built and well-dressed men arrived and told him that the job had be done without delay.

Identities

Ngubane said he was not aware of the identities of the men as he was seeing them for the first time. He also said he did not ask them any questions because he was not sure about their identities since it was possible that they might be police officers. He went to apologise to the Gamedze family and the people of Eswatini for causing them grief by killing the businessman, having allegedly been sent by Shongwe. Shongwe is denying any involvement in the murder of Gamedze and denied ever meeting and sending Nkosi to kill the businessman.

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