A MAN accused of hacking his wife to death with a bushknife at Stick Farm near Hibberdene three months ago appeared briefly in the Ramsgate High Court this week.
High Court Judge Dhaya Pillay granted an application for the accused, Philani Cyprian Zondo (30) from Mtwalume to undergo mental observation. The case was postponed to March 10, 2014 in order for a warrant to be signed to take the accused to hospital. When Judge Pillay questioned the long delay, advocate Korne Radyn said this was the earliest a hospital bed would be available. Zondo is on trial for allegedly murdering Mbali Patricia Shangase on July 12.
According to the indictment, the couple experienced relationship problems, and Ms Shangase and the couple’s two children moved to her brother’s home on July 8. Two days later, the couple met at a local magistrate’s court to address their differences.
It was decided that Ms Shangase would continue to live at her brother’s home and Zondo would be free to visit his children anytime. The following day, Zondo met with Ms Shangase and begged her to return. To placate him, she agreed to move back the following day.
On the morning of the murder, Zondo went to Stick Farm to help Ms Shangase move her belongings back to their home in Mtwalume. However, when he arrived, Ms Shangase informed him that she and the children were not moving back and that she was moving to Umzimkhulu.
This infuriated Zondo who apparently grabbed a bushknife that was nearby and hacked her with it. Ms Shangase died as a result of multiple injuries inflicted on her body.
