VEREENIGING. – The Vereeniging Magistrates Court saw a brief appearance of the four suspects allegedly involved in the brutal assassination of Palesa Mofokeng on Monday, April 08.
The quartet – Mzwanele Mazeke (36), suspected to be the hitman; Jabulani Thabethe (38), identified as the driver, Tumelo Ntholeng (34), Mofokeng’s ex-husband and a medical doctor; and Pakiso Makhaya (39), Ntholeng’s cousin – have been linked to the orchestrated murder alleged to be planned since September last year.
According to the charge sheet, the quartet is facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder charges.
During their appearance at the regional court, Mazeke and Makhaya, represented by their legal counsels Jaco van Heerden and Braudley Labuschagne, made allegations of assault during their arrest.
“Mazeke was assaulted by members of the SAPS and suffered some injuries. I request that the court instruct the prison officials where he would be detained to see a medical practitioner,” said van Heerden.
Labuschagne told Magistrate Kruger “I would also like to put on record that my client, Makhanya, sustained injuries during his arrest. The police assaulted him. He, too, should be provided with medical attention in prison.”
This claim led Magistrate Chris Kruger to postpone the case to Monday 15, allowing the duo an opportunity to receive urgent medical attention.
According to a source close to the investigation, the body of the deceased had a total of eight bullet wounds, and the back window of the vehicle shattered.
“The preliminary investigation and accounts from eyewitnesses indicated that the deceased was stationary at the robot next to the entrance of Curro Private School in Hendrik van Eck Boulevard in Vanderbijlpark. There was also a blue-coloured Honda FRV motor vehicle stationary in the lane next to the vehicle of the deceased, as the robot was still red at this stage.”
“A passenger seated in the back of the Honda FRV motor vehicle then alighted from the vehicle holding a firearm in his hand, firing several shots to the deceased through the back window of her vehicle. This resulted in the vehicle moving forward, as the deceased suspected let go of the clutch of her vehicle, and it drove slowly over the robot and to the side of the road. The suspect then got back in the Honda FRV vehicle and drove off,” said the source.
