Two police officers who are facing a raft of charges, including that of eThekwini ANC councillor of ward 99 Mnqobi Molefe, have denied being at the crime scene where Nhlonipho Nzimande was killed on August 23, 2022.
Constable Mayendran Collin Chetty and his friend Constable Thanduxolo Vincent Phelago are on trial at the Durban Regional Court. They are charged with conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of housebreaking with intent to commit murder, four counts of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition.
The law enforcement officers were based in the eMkhomazi (Umkomaas) police station south of Durban. The counsel who represents the pair, advocate GJ Leppan, told the court during the cross-examination of a witness whom we cannot name for safety reasons, that his clients were nowhere near the crime scene on the day Nzimande was killed.
The State alleges that the cops shot and killed Nzimande in the Amahlongwa area, in Umkomaas. They took two cellphones, three white buckets with money in coins, two Smirnoff Vodka one litre, five boxes of 750ml of Smirnoff Vodka, two boxes of Smirnoff nips (48 units in each box, three boxes of three-quarter Smirnoff Vodka (18 units in each box), cash amount that is currently unknown and a Guess watch.
Leppan also told the witness that Chetty would deny that he ever bought drugs from Nzimande. Nzimande is alleged to have sold drugs to the officers.
The witness replied to Leppan and said he would also tell the court that he saw the two cops where Nzimande was killed execution style. Chetty said he came to the crime scene the next morning after Nzimande was killed.
He had also said at the time Nzimande was dead. He was at home sleeping and was woken up in the morning by his mother when he had to get ready for work.
Leppan further said Phelago would tell the court that on the fateful night, he was at home with his girlfriend. The witness who looked relaxed and kept on drinking water as he answered questions said he saw the cops on the fateful night.
He said Nzimande had a good relationship with Chetty and they used to hang around together in a tavern and play pool. However, he said Chetty used to take the drugs without Nzimande’s permission. “He told me that Nzimande thought he was smart but he would show him,” he said.
Furthermore, the witness told the court that when Nzimande was killed, he had plans of opening his tavern and had stocked up alcohol. He was busy with renovations and in the process of obtaining a licence to sell it.
During the court proceedings, the two cops looked relaxed. Chetty would sometimes laugh at what the witness was saying and shake his head or write down in his paper and show his friend Phelago.
The cops are also facing the murders of Pilayelo Sydney Buthelezi and Mqapheli Victor Cele.
Sunday Tribune