The defence lawyer, advocate Bongani Khumalo, of the three men accused of killing the Gauteng IFP deputy chief whip and MP Khethamabala Sithole, accuses the investigation officer of unfairly labelling the three men ‘dangerous’.

This occurred during the cross-examination, which continued at the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court on August 21.

The three accused, who are Bhekokuhle Sithole(36), Ntando Ximba (30) and Mkhululi Sithole (33) are charged with two counts of attempted murder, murder, unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

On August 19, the defence lawyer advocate Khumalo submitted a bail application for the three accused in court.

However the investigation officer who asked not to be named opposed the bail application and said the accused are allegedly dangerous because they cold-bloodedly killed the Gauteng IFP deputy chief whip Khethamabala.

The investigation officer revealed in court that he managed to arrest the suspects with the help of a witness who was amongst the accused when they plotted to kill the late Khethamabala during the IFP branch meeting at Buyafuthi Hostel, on May 31.

“The witness said the they were five men who debated amongst each other that who was going to take up the responsibility of killing the late Khethamabala, before the suspect who is currently at large took-up the responsibility of shooting him 11 times.

“During the murder of the Khethamabala, the Gauteng IFP secretary Alco Ngobese was shot on the head and the other Gauteng IFP Youth leader Sambulo Nxumalo was shot near the heart and he stayed in hospital for 21 days,” said the investigating officer.

He added that before the shooting could occur, it’s alleged that Mkhululi started the get-away-car and left it idling.

“After the shooting he transported the accused to a church. Thereafter, police were called to the crime scene and I came the following day on June 1 to investigate.

“At the scene the witness pulled me aside and asked to meet with me at Sam Ntuli Mall, so he could inform me who killed the late Khethamabala. The witness instructed me that I shouldn’t come with the local police so I went to meet with him accompanied by the Gauteng crime prevention wardens,” the investigating officer shared.

He mentioned that the witness helped him to arrest the three accused.

“He told me who were the people involved in murdering Khethamabala, and on June 3, I was with the witness who was in a tinted BMW who identified suspects and took me to their residential homes, Bhekokuhle was found with a licensed firearm and Ntando was not found with anything.”

He added that they went to look for Mkhululi, but they couldn’t find him.

“However since I possessed his car’s registration number, I circulated it and on June 26, the suspect was apprehended near Mall of the South.

“He was then detained at Brackensdowns Police Station.”

On August 21 as the bail hearing resumed, the investigating officer was cross-examined by the defence lawyer advocate Khumalo.

The investigating officer maintained that the suspects are dangerous and may pose danger to the witness and their lives might be at risk as well if they are released on bail.

Khumalo argued that some of the officer’s statements were based on assumptions, including his belief that Bhekokuhle may be a robber simply because he owns a licensed firearm and is unemployed.

He also added that the accused do not pose any danger to the witness, because the witness’s identity was not revealed in court.

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