Murder accused Sifiso Vusimuzi Sibanyoni (39) received over R1.5m in a life insurance payout following the death of his estranged wife, Dr Nondumiso Nkosi-Sibanyoni, who was shot in November last year.

Lowvelder reports the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court heard on Tuesday that Sibanyoni, who is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and premeditated murder, was the beneficiary of a life insurance policy he had taken out on her.

Constable Sindisiwe Precious Nyaka, from the SAPS Organised Crime Unit, testified that she is the investigating officer assigned to the case.

“The accused received over R1.5m from the life cover on March 20 this year. There is additional money he also received, but I do not have the exact figure with me,” Nyaka said.

She opposed bail, stating that Sibanyoni was capable of anything, having allegedly hired hitmen to murder his wife. She added that state witnesses feared for their safety.

“The accused knows my witnesses. He may interfere with the ongoing investigation, and I believe he is likely to evade trial. The case is very serious, and the accused is fully aware that the minimum sentence for the charge of femicide is life imprisonment,” she told the court.

Nyaka said that another suspect, believed to have fired the fatal shot that killed Nkosi-Sibanyoni, remains at large.
The shooting occurred in the parking lot of Virgin Active Gym in Riverside, Mbombela, at around 05:20 on November 20 last year.

Following eight months of investigation, Sibanyoni was arrested on July 8.

When the court asked Nyaka why it took so long to arrest him, she replied that there had been investigative loose ends that needed to be tied up.

She outlined that Sibanyoni had approached one of her witnesses and told him that he wanted muthi to kill his wife because she had filed for a divorce and wanted half of his assets.

He and the witness then allegedly met with another two men, who he was told were capable of killing his wife.

Nyaka said he disclosed his plan to kill his wife to the two men, saying that she was a nuisance.

She further told the court that the group drove to Mbombela in two vehicles and stopped at the Sonpark Shopping Centre, where Sibanyoni’s car was left.

“He got into the other car, leaving his own behind because it was well known. He took the group to the victim’s uncle’s home to point out where she was staying. He then told the group that she always went to the gym before work at 05:00 and showed them her photo on his phone,” said Nyaka.

She added that during negotiations with the accused, the supposed hitmen demanded payment upfront.

The accused told the witnesses he had previously paid R70 000 to other hitmen to kill his wife, but they disappeared with the money. That’s why he insisted she be killed before any payment was made,” said Nyaka.

Sibanyoni’s lawyer read his affidavit into the record, stating he was asleep at home when his wife was killed. An affidavit by his girlfriend, Thuli Zanele Shangase, supported this alibi, indicating that he was not present at the scene of the murder.

“On November 19 last year I was sleeping next to my partner. I have personal knowledge that he never left the house until people came to tell him the following morning that his wife had been killed,” the affidavit read.

Sibanyoni’s lawyer maintained that there was no identity parade to point out the accused as the person who killed the victim, and that there was no footage placing him at the crime scene.

“The accused denies his involvement in the murder and can afford R2 000 bail,” said Sibanyoni’s lawyer.

He was remanded in custody until July 23 for the continuation of the bail hearing.

The victim’s mother, Busisiwe Mazibuko, said she was pleased that the police had finally made an arrest, saying that it would bring the family some closure.

The court noted that there were protesters outside the building calling for the accused to be denied bail.

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