Former Induna turns state witness

THE Empangeni Regional Court last week heard shocking testimony from a former Induna of Inkosi Zenzo Zungu in his ongoing attempted murder trial.

The former Induna, Lindelihle Ntombela (53), who described himself as being instrumental in the fight that saw Zungu take the position of AmaKhosi, testified about his involvement in the case before the court.

Zungu and Inkosi Eric Khoza together with the alleged trigger-man Sakhile Biyela and Nodu Elijah Dlulani are facing two charges of attempted murder and one charge of conspiracy to commit murder after the botched attempt on the life of a woman Zungu’s uncle, Petros Zungu was living with at his Mevamhlope home in February 2006.

Ntombela’s testimony painted a picture of intrigue and Mafioso-ish behaviour, culminating in what he says was an attempted hit on the woman whom Zungu allegedly found to be ‘troublesome’.

‘The Inkosi did not like her, and expressed his displeasure to his uncle and to me a number of times,’ said Ntombela.

Zungu then apparently began the traditional preparations for his uncle to be married to a more ‘acceptable’ woman, a process Ntombela said the uncle’s girlfriend was not too happy about.

‘On the morning before an important traditional ceremony for the wedding she took Petros’ clothes and dipped them in water, so he could not wear them,’ said Ntombela.

‘Inkosi Zungu was very upset by this.’

Turning point
Ntombela told the court how he was asked to travel with Zungu to eShowe, where they met with Inkosi Eric Khoza.
Khoza was allegedly the link between Zungu and the hitman.

His testimony went into great detail about the conversation between Zungu and Khoza regarding the man who would ‘do the job’ for Zungu and the subsequent events.

‘Although they did not say it, I knew they were talking about killing someone when Inksosi Zungu asked Inkosi Khoza if the boy he had in mind was good at this sort of job. I knew it was murder, because this sort of thing happened all the time.’

During his questioning it emerged that he was tasked with the duty of fetching the ‘hit man’, identified as Zungu’s co-accused Sakhile Biyela from eShowe on the day allegedly determined by Zungu, who made sure he was ‘away on a trip’.

‘I dropped him off by the side of the road within walking distance from the home Petros and his girlfriend was living in,’ he said.

‘Later that night Sakhile phoned me and told me to come pick him up. He also repeatedly asked me to make sure Inkosi Zungu paid him the R3000 as agreed by them.’

The apparent attempt on the life of the woman, who has not been named to protect her privacy, failed.
‘Only the next day Inkosi Zungu phoned me and said ‘that dog failed’,’ said Ntombela.

Apparently Biyela fired a shot at the woman through the bedroom window and she fell off the bed. The bullet had struck the headboard just next to her head, leaving her frightened but unharmed.

The police were called and a case of attempted murder opened.

Asked why he had taken more than nine years to come forward and testify, Ntombela simply stated that ‘everyone knew what would happen if you make Inkosi Zungu upset or question his orders’.

Ntombela also pleaded with the court to provide him with police protection as he alleged that Inkosi Zungu had threatened him during lunch break on Thursday, an allegation that was met with exclamations of disbelief from the gallery as well as Zungu and his co-accused.

The case was postponed until 13 October when further arguments will be heard.