I WAS DAD’S FAVOURITE - SON IN CHIEF RANGER’S MURDER

MBABANE - “I was my father’s favourite.”

Fana Mbatha (34) of Lomahasha, who is alleged to have killed his father, George Mbatha, made this allegation in his replying affidavit in the application for bail he filed after his arrest. His co-accused is Ndumiso Fakudze (28) of Mhlumeni. George, who was 68 years old when he was shot dead, was a Chief Ranger at Hlane Royal National Park. Fana disputed that he hired hit men to kill his father. He said the Crown was desperately trying to build a case against him, taking advantage of the prevalent family disputes around the time of George’s death.
The accused informed the court that the alleged hit men, as well as the chronology of events leading to George’s death, were not known to him. “I wish to mention that out of all his children, I was my father’s favourite and we had a very good relationship. The family disputes were not so grave as the respondent puts it out to be,” he said.

Desperately

Fana said he never at any point had the intention to kill his father and the Crown was desperately trying to build a case against him. “I wish to mention that the nature of the work of my father put his life at risk. I say this because I am also a game ranger and there were instances wherein I was also targeted by poachers and attempts to take my life were made. “Consequently, I reiterate that poaching is rife during this time of the year and my father was killed in the line of duty since he was in charge of the security and safety of the game reserve,” Fana added. The veracity of these allegations is still to be tested in court. Fana is represented by Sibusiso Mabuza of Mtshali-Ngcamphalala Attorneys. He said he did not understand why he was labelled the mastermind of the murder of his father.

He asked that if he wanted his father dead, “why would I call for medical assistance after he was shot? I reiterate that the respondent is on a witch-hunt and I am not the person they are looking for. The respondent is taking advantage of the fact that there was a family dispute between me and the deceased and they are desperately trying to build their case based on that. I did not kill nor enlist the services of another person to murder my father. Moreover, the alleged witness, whom I allegedly enlisted, is not known to me and I never had any meeting with the said witness.”

Involving

Fana admitted that there were disputes at home involving his father. He submitted that he had no intention of killing his father since the matter giving rise to the family disputes was being deliberated upon by the court. Fana informed the court that the alleged failed plot to kill his father at Lomahasha was not known to him. He mentioned that his father died in the line of duty. According to Fana, the nature of his father’s employment exposed him to poachers. He submitted that George was famously known for his good track record in his fight against poaching. “This state of affairs put his life in danger because he was known to be in charge of the game rangers and the security at the game reserve, making him a great threat to poachers. I wish to mention that during this time of the year, poaching is rife since the grass has grown tall and the veld is overgrown. I wish to mention that I was one of the very first people to arrive at the crime scene and I am the one who called for medical assistance.”

The accused stated that the Crown was desperately trying to paint him as a delinquent. He alleged that he only got to know about his purported disciplinary process through the Crown’s answering affidavit. He alleged that the court could deduce that the show cause letter was never received by him. He said he had never seen it before these proceedings. Fana further wondered why, if he was desperate to have his father killed, he would have done it himself.

Defeats

“It defeats logic as to why would I enlist the services of the co-accused if I was able to break into the deceased’s house, open his gun safe and take the firearms. “If I had so much access to the deceased’s house, I would have just killed him in his sleep without a trace. I reiterate that the respondent is desperately trying to create a case against me and they have since resorted to creating Hollywood scenes. If I desperately wanted to kill my father, I would not have approached this court to have the impugned court order reviewed and set aside. I have so much faith and belief in the justice system and the bail system and I am not a violent person who would resort to taking matters into his own hands.” Fana denied that he would evade trial since he did not have properties in other countries and he would surrender his travel document to the Simunye Police Station. He said he would not intimidate/influence Crown witnesses since they were unknown to him. The accused told the court that his relatives visited him at Big Bend Correctional Facility and there had not been any threats levelled against him.

Untimely

“We are all grieving the untimely death of my father. My life is not in danger whatsoever because my relatives do not think and do not believe that I killed my father. It is to my best interest and my family that I should be granted bail. I am innocent in this matter and the court will find me so at trail.” Fana also denied breaching any court orders, “since I did not disturb the peace between myself and my father.” He mentioned that the averment that the arguments of the review proceedings were to be heard on the same day his father was murdered, was void of any truth. Fana was one of George’s children who appeared in the restraining order granted to him (George) by Simunye Acting Principal Magistrate Musa Nxumalo last year. He said a review application was due to be heard on March 8, 2023 by Judge Titus Mlangeni and his father was murdered on March 6, 2023. Fana told the court that he was innocent of the charges against him “since I did not kill the deceased and this honourable court will acquit me.” He also submitted that the interest of justice dictated that he was presumed innocent until proven guilty. The matter is pending in court.

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