Foiled assassination plot accused denies allegations

The individual accused of a foiled assassination attempt against former a Mtubatuba mayor has denied all allegations.

Appearing before Mtubatuba Regional Court on Thursday, Zakhele Dlamini (35) dismissed witness testimonies regarding the alleged conspiracy to murder Thobelani Ngcamphalala.

The Jozini native pleaded not guilty to the counts of conspiracy to commit murder and corruption after being arrested in 2021.

He said he, too, wants to ‘know the truth’, claiming the testimonies of State witnesses, Eswatini national Nhlanhla Maseko and ANC Nokuhamba Nyawo (Far North) Region Chairperson Siphile Mdaka, were false.

A self-described tenderprenuer, who was arrested on 9 November 2021 for allegedly conspiring with others during September that year to murder Ngcamphalala, told the court he ‘does not know these allegations’.

Denied bail and awaiting trial at Qalakabusha Correctional Centre, Dlamini refuted Maseko’s testimony that he had offered R500 000 for Ngcamphalala’s murder.

He also denies meeting with Maseko and the late accused Zakhele Khanyile in eMfekayi, Mtubatuba to discuss an assassination plot.

He further denies calling anyone to tell them to meet with him in Mkhuze to discuss the alleged plot, because he was well known in Mtubatuba, and also told the court that prior to his arrest, he did not know Maseko.

Seeking to counter before the court Ngcamphalala’s and Mdaka’s testimonies from Wednesday that questioned his ANC membership, Dlamini testified that the only meeting he had attended in Mkhuze during that time was that of his political party, convened by those within his faction who were dissatisfied with the regional ‘upper structure’.

However, he said that, personally, he has ‘never had any issues with Ngcamphalala’.

Dlamini’s defence said there are witnesses who will corroborate that he had attended an ANC caucus meeting in Mkhuze and not one where a conspiracy to murder Ngcamphalala was discussed.

Also refuted was the allegation that Dlamini offered money to Maseko to give false testimony in court.

“We [Maseko and I] were both pleading not guilty, your worship, so there was no reason to bribe Maseko because we were all denying the allegations,” Dlamini told the court.

“I never went to Nhlanhla Maseko’s cell and spoke to him.”

He told the court that, at some point after his arrest, some police officers told him to plead guilty to the allegation of conspiracy to commit murder because a bigger fish behind the alleged plot was being pursued.

The matter was postponed to 24 November when the defence will bring its two witnesses to the stand, while closing arguments are scheduled for 27 November.

HAVE YOUR SAY