Court grants bail in murder conspiracy case
Community activist and MK Party member Kubenokuthula 'Thula' Khumalo was murdered at his home in March.
Philani Phillip Nzimande was granted R1 000 bail in the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court recently in connection with the murder of community activist and MK Party member Kubenokuthula ‘Thula’ Khumalo.
Nzimande (36) from Shayamoya, Umzinto, has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to murder and murder.
The case was transferred from the Umzinto Magistrate’s Court.
It is alleged that Nzimande drove two shooters to the deceased’s (Khumalo) residence, where the murder occurred in Esperanza in March.
The two men (shooters) are believed to have gone to the house under the pretext that they were looking for a place to rent. It is alleged when Khumalo went to speak to them, they drew their firearms, and shot him in front of his family, and then fled the scene.
At his bail application, Nzimande claimed that he had no involvement in the murder. His defence added that there was no evidence provided by the state to directly link him to the shooters and that if it was conspiracy to murder, there would be more evidence.
Magistrate Pierre Louwrens said that the state’s case is currently weak and that they provided no factual substance of the allegations.
Taking this and the accused’s personal circumstances into consideration, bail was set at R1 000.
The state opposed saying that the accused is a danger to society and that there is community outrage because of this case.
MK party members and community members protested outside the court with the victim’s family and also filled the courtroom. They were upset by the court’s decision and demanded that justice be served.
Nzimande is expected to reappear in court on May 9.
Suspects two and three (shooters) are yet to be arrested.
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