Retired cop denies accepting a bribe in order to weaken evidence in murder case
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RETIRED Lieutenant-Colonel Khephu Ndlovu, previously from the SAPS Bhekithemba police station, uMlazi, told the Pinetown Regional Court on Friday that he did not accept any money to fudge and weaken evidence in a murder case in which his relative, Felokwakhe Ndlovu (accused number three), was the accused.
Ndlovu, with 32 years’ service as a policeman, testified that at his meeting with Felokwakhe’s wife, Sibongile Ndlovu (accused number two) in September 2019, they discussed matters pertaining to a family function scheduled for the next month.
At that time Felokwakhe had been arrested for the murder of the ANC’s KwaNdengezi branch leader, Thulani Nxumalo.
He was sentenced in May last year at the Durban High Court together with Nkosiyanda Ndlovu and Nkosinathi Mbambo, with whom he collaborated to kill Nxumalo, his cousin.
The State is alleging that Ndlovu and Captain Bongani Dlamini (accused number one), from the Hawks, accepted a bribe of R120 000 from Sibongile at Durban Central police station to weaken the evidence in the murder case of Nxumalo, who was gunned down in 2018.
During cross-examination, the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, advocate Lawrence Gcaba, asked Ndlovu what was so urgent that they had to meet six weeks before the family function with Sibongile as he was busy preparing for a choir competition at his workplace.
“There was nothing urgent on that day. When you are at work and a family member wants to see you, there is nothing wrong with taking time off to see them,” answered Ndlovu.
Gcaba asked Ndlovu about him being a Zulu man and expecting respect from his sister-in-law Sibongile and his wife. He asked if Sibongile respected him all the time, and Ndlovu said yes.
He then asked Ndlovu if Sibongile was indeed respecting him, why did she not tell him that during the meeting she would be coming with his father. “Is that not how the Zulu culture works? Were you not expecting her to tell you that she is coming with your father?” asked Gcaba.
Ndlovu said that is how the culture works, and whether Sibongile told him or not, he saw nothing wrong.
Gcaba said the reason Sibongile did not tell him she was coming with his father, referred to as Mkhulu, and another male (Mpofu), was to witness Ndlovu taking the bribe.
“What the prosecutor is saying is not true,” replied Ndlovu.
Gcaba also quizzed Ndlovu about not naming “Mkhulu” in his written statement at the time of his arrest. Instead, he had said Sibongile was with two males when she came to him, with one (Mpofu) being known to him.
Ndlovu said it was a mistake that he did not mention Mkhulu. He disputed that Mkhulu was there to witness the money transaction, but confirmed that the meeting happened.
Ndlovu said he knew before the meeting that Felokwakhe was in custody. However, Sibongile never told him about the challenges she was facing since her husband's arrest.
The trial continues.
