Durban - The municipal security officer who allegedly shot dead his supervisor at the Pietermaritzburg traffic department offices in January, has since been fired.
This revelation was made by Sifiso Hlengwa’s advocate, Brad Osbourne, at the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Hlengwa, who applied for bail last week, was expecting to hear on Thursday whether he was successful in his bid for conditional freedom, but this was scuppered by the magistrate’s enquiry as to Hlengwa’s current state of employment.
Osbourne told the court Hlengwa had received a letter of termination of his services from the municipality during the week.
“I have not yet been given instructions as to whether this termination will be challenged, or whether my client is in a position to enforce his rights in terms of arbitration,” Osbourne said.
Magistrate Y Khuzwayo said in light of the new information she needed to reconsider her judgment, and postponed the bail ruling until Monday.
Hlengwa, 39, is charged with the murder of Superintendent Pumla Dlamini, the acting manager of public safety, who was shot dead on January 14 at the Washington Road offices.
Dlamini was shot five times in an office after an argument, allegedly with Hlengwa.
He died later in hospital.
Hlengwa fled the scene after the shooting, “in panic and shock”.
He said in his affidavit in support of his bail application that he remained in hiding for two weeks in fear for his life.
Hlengwa eventually handed himself over to police.
He said he intended pleading not guilty to the charge.
Daily News