Mbombela anaesthetist’s murder: Investigating officer reveals horrific crime details

The bail application of Bheki Ndlovu (38), Nkateko Tshidzumba (25) and Siyabonga Kekana (20), accused of the murder of Mbombela anaesthetist Dr Nicholas Procter, continued in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Procter was murdered on February 1. His body was found in a flat in the Green Valley Estate in Mbombela, which was used as a vacation rental unit.

The accused face charges of robbery, theft, attempted theft and murder.

On February 14, the bail application commenced in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court, where the affidavits of the three accused were presented, aiming to provide exceptional circumstances warranting their bail.

Yesterday, the state had the opportunity to present reasons why the three accused should not be granted bail.

During the proceedings, the state called an investigating officer from the SAPS Serious and Violent Crimes Unit who testified that the accused might be flight risks, intimidate witnesses, tamper with evidence or commit other offences.

He detailed Procter’s murder, including him being tied up with shoelaces, suffocated and strangled.

As the details of the murder were presented, the disbelief and horror was clearly visible on the faces of Procter’s stepfather Jacob Vorster, and a colleague, Crystal Meletiou, who were seated in the front benches of the courtroom.

Ndlovu allegedly confessed to the police on the day of his arrest, February 4. His Legal Aid attorney disputed this, claiming Ndlovu had no knowledge of any confession and was coerced into signing papers without understanding their contents.

The defence argued that Ndlovu was not a flight risk, citing a lack of video footage linking him to the crime scene. However, the investigating officer disputed this, revealing Ndlovu’s previous theft conviction in 2011.

The private attorney for Tshidzumba and Kekana claimed their addresses were verified by police officers in Gauteng, but the investigator disputed this. The officer stated one of the accused was hidden by his family and transported in the vehicle allegedly used in the crime, raising concerns about evasion.

The police couldn’t provide information on Tshidzumba’s criminal record due to system issues, and Kekana previously faced a withdrawn charge of possession of dangerous substances in 2022.

During cross-examination, it was revealed that the state might add kidnapping charges.

The investigation is ongoing, and a fourth suspect, who allegedly booked the vacation rental unit, remains at large.

The matter was postponed to February 22, for closing statements.