Durban magistrate denies bail to former taxi boss linked to attack on advocate

The Durban Magistrate's Court has denied bail to Kholwani Prayerman Ntanjana, a former taxi boss accused of orchestrating a hit on advocate Coreth Naudé SC. The decision reflects deep concerns over the defendant's past and the allegation that he masterminded a violent attack on the legal professional.

Naudé sustained severe injuries during the attack on July 18, 2024, at the entrance of the Premier Hotel in Umhlanga. The seasoned advocate was shot in the neck, face, and shoulder, allegedly by assailants Siyanda Emmanuel Mbulwana and Mcebisi Corlen Runeyi, who are currently in custody and awaiting trial. It is believed they were directed by Ntanjana.

At the time of her attack, Naudé was actively pursuing a tax inquiry into Andile Mpisane, the son of the high-profile and sometimes controversial Durban businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize. Following the shooting, the advocate had extensive reconstructive surgery on her jaw.

Magistrate Quim de Freitas, delivering his ruling, voiced significant concerns regarding Ntanjana's criminal history. He noted the troubling nature of Ntanjana's previous eight charges, which included murder and carjacking, all of which were withdrawn without any clear explanations. "It’s not normal for a good upstanding citizen to be associated with murder, firearms, carjacking, etc. It’s clear he has a propensity to be associated with violent crime, which is not a normal thing," de Freitas articulated in court.

The magistrate further scrutinised Ntanjana's inconsistent accounts regarding his residence and financial status. Ntanjana provided multiple addresses and contradictory claims about his financial means. Initially asserting he owned taxis and claiming a monthly income of R500,000, he later revised this figure to R105,000 in a supplementary affidavit and provided no documentation corroborating his claims of financial capability, notably failing to demonstrate the R60,000 he alleged to earn from the Uncedo Service Taxi Association.

Even in terms of living arrangements, Ntanjana's declaration raised eyebrows; he purportedly lives in Umhlanga, paying a hefty R35,000 rent, while his company, Stozz Holdings, purportedly generates a modest R45,000 monthly. Magistrate de Freitas questioned, "You have to have a lot of moola (money) to pay R35,000 rent per month." The magistrate ultimately found Ntanjana's financial assertions untrustworthy and highlighted that his claimed company was not registered in his name, casting further doubt on his credibility.

Just before the magistrate's ruling was delivered, Ntanjana's lawyer, advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, attempted to submit a late bank statement from FNB, arguing it contained crucial information regarding his whereabouts on the day of the incident. Senior Prosecutor Seema Reddy objected to its acceptance, suggesting it was a last-minute effort to bolster the defence’s position. While de Freitas allowed the statement into evidence, he noted that it only contained transactions from the morning of the attack, leaving critical gaps in Ntanjana's narrative.

The court has scheduled Ntanjana's next appearance for January 2026.

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