Nhlanhla Maseko (35), the former accused now state witness in an alleged 2021 assassination plot, will be cross-examined when he takes the stand at Mtubatuba Regional Court in KZN today.

Maseko, a Kingdom of Eswatini national, is a witness in the case relating to an alleged assassination plot on the life of then Mtubatuba mayor Thobelani Ncamphalala.

The accused, Thokozani Zakhele Dlamini (32), has pleaded not guilty to a count of conspiracy to commit murder and one of corruption.

He is facing the corruption charge after he allegedly offered Maseko money to give false testimony in court.

The former third accused in the matter, Zakhele Khanyile, was fatally gunned down in a drive-by shooting at Macekane on February 1.

The matter has suffered several postponements, including difficulty of securing an IsiSwati interpreter for Maseko’s testimony.

On Monday, the matter was postponed until yesterday due to the unavailability of the magistrate.

In previous proceedings, Maseko told the court that he heard talks of him being ‘eliminated’ after he changed his mind about the 2021 hit on Ncamphalala.

Maseko said Dlamini had been tasked with finding people to carry out the hit for a fee of R200 000.