Accused in alleged plot on former mayor not guilty

The accused in the alleged conspiracy to murder former Mtubatuba mayor Thobelani Verus Ngcamphalala was on Friday found not guilty.

The Mtubatuba Regional Court also found the accused, Zakhele Thokozani Dlamini, not guilty on a count of corruption, for allegedly offering money to the State’s sole witness, former accused Kingdom of eSwatini national Nhlanhla Maseko.

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Dlamini welcomed the judgment, which heavily criticised the State for relying solely on Maseko’s evidence, which it failed to corroborate.

“I thank the court for this decision. It proves that once the truth comes out, lies no longer have a place,” said Dlamini outside court.

Advocate Moyomuhle J Mthiyane for Dlamini said he was happy that at the end justice was served.

“Justice prevailed because sometimes people are falsely arrested or accused, and such a judgment makes us happy as lawyers,” said Mthiyane.

Magistrate Zungu found that the State had failed to prove Dlamini’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt on both counts.

Zungu also discharged Maseko of the charge of conspiracy to murder, stating it had been found that he had testified frankly.
Dlamini had pleaded not guilty to both counts.

The former third accused in the matter, Zakhele Nelson Khanyile, was fatally gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Macekane on 1 February 2023.

Dlamini, a self-described tenderprenuer, was arrested on 9 November 2021 for allegedly conspiring with others during September of that year to murder Ngcamphalala.

Dlamini was denied bail and had been an awaiting-trial prisoner at Qalakabusha Correctional Centre in Empangeni.

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