THE Malamulele Regional Court was expected to impose heavy sentences on Vincent Phakula (34) and Moses Ntsenene (29) yesterday (Tuesday) after they were found guilty of conspiracy to murder Thohoyandou businessman, Goddard Mugwena.
The court heard evidence that Phakula and Ntsenene, both from Namagale-Phalaborwa, were hired by Mugwena’s wife, Doris Mthembi, in 2009.
She allegedly cheated on her husband with former Muvhango soap star, Joe Ragwala, at the time.
The two men alleged that they were promised R50 000 and a Toyota Tazz each by Mthembi, who is currently serving a six-year prison sentence for perjury after she lied under oath and said she had been kidnapped and raped by Mugwena.
The two further alleged that Mthembi and Ragwala had several meetings with them in Phalaborwa, to plan the assassination of Mugwena.
They said their last meeting was on August 17 in 2009.
Phakula said Mthembi gave a description of the man who had to die. “She told us that the man was black, short with a big tummy and bald.”
They said it was their first time to be involved in a plot to kill. They further said they agreed because they were promised a lot of money. They also bought balaclavas, pangas, rope, toy guns, matches and clothes to change into after killing Mugwena,” Phakula said.
“Mthembi drove us in her car, which had tinted windows, from Phalaborwa and arrived at Ragwala’s home in Ha-Mangilasi village where he showed us the clothes to wear after killing the businessman. We spent our night at Mvudi Park near Thohoyandou. On August 18 2009 she drove us and parked her car at the gate of his home. She gave R20 to the domestic worker to go and buy airtime.
“While she was out, Mthembi ordered us to quickly go inside the house and hide behind the wall unit. She also showed us the sofa that Mugwena liked to relax on when watching TV. She said we must point the toy guns at him and when he surrendered, we had to tie him up and lock him in the boot of his car, and drive to the Nandoni dam.
“It was planned that Mthembi would also drive to Nandoni Dam where Mugwena would be forced to sign a will before petrol was poured over him and he was set alight,” they testified.
Mugwena corroborated part of their testimony. “When I got home, before entering the house, I was thinking about an informer who had told me that there were people who wanted to kill me.
“I decided not to go inside and called the police to search the house first.
“While the police were searching, Ntsenene came out and pointed a toy gun and holding a panga in his other hand. I screamed and the police secured them,” Mugwena testified.
Magistrate Johannes Coetzee found Ntsenene and Phakula guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, theft of a remote control and gate key, conspiring to commit kidnapping, and trespassing. Ntsenene was also found guilty of pointing the toy gun.
At the time of going to print, court was still in session.
