State: Why ANC man was killed

PRETORIA NEWS

North West MEC China Dodovu in the dock with his co-accused. Picture : Thobile Mathonsi

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Klerksdorp -

The man accused of firing the bullet that killed the ANC regional secretary of the Kenneth Kaunda region, Aubuti Chika, told police that Chika was killed to prevent him from attending the ANC’s national conference in Mangaung last year.

The Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court heard on Monday that the possible killing of Matlosana executive mayor Kagiso Khauoe had also been discussed, along with Chika’s murder.

Chika was shot dead two days before the start of the conference.

Eight suspects, including Local Government MEC and ANC deputy chairman in North West, China Dodovu, have been arrested for his murder.

The others are Jouberton ward councillor Itumeleng Molebatsi; Jeffery Letuka; ward secretary Paul Molomonyane; ANC Youth League North West chairman Papiki Baboile; former municipal employee William Molefo; taxi owner Khotso Kali and Sihlangu Sikhakhane.

Residents protest outside the Klerksdorps Magistrates Court against the eight suspects being granted bail. Picture: Thobile Mathonsi

PRETORIA NEWS

The prosecution said yesterday that Sikhakhane, from Kwazulu-Natal, had confessed to police about killing Chika for a payment of R15 000.

Sikhakhane has claimed in his bail application that he was tortured and beaten into making and signing the confession.

But the State countered he had even pointed out scenes related to the murder and led them to his licensed firearm.

Ballistics results confirmed it was the gun that killed Chika, the State said.

Opposing bail for the eight suspects, the State said all the accused were involved in the planning and execution of Chika’s murder, which was mainly discussed at a meeting held at the River Lodge in Klerksdorp.

Dodovu is alleged to have attended the meeting, and the State claimed it had a witness who was at the meeting where plans to kill Chika were discussed.

The State said Sikhakhane was approached by co-accused Kali to kill Chika to prevent him from attending the Mangaung conference.

Kali was accompanied by men travelling in a BMW X5, believed to be that of Baboile.

It was agreed to pay him R15 000.

Chika was killed the next day.

Another disputed confession by one of the suspects, Letuka, revealed that the possible killing of Matlosana mayor Khauoe was also discussed at the meeting.

The State said Letuka had also confessed to being approached by three of his co-accused, Baboile, Molefo and Kali, to kill Chika.

The men were travelling in the same BMW X5, described by Sikhakhane in his confession, and offered to pay R50 000 for the killing.

They were handed explosives to carry out the killing, but these were taken back and the murder was called off after the three claimed they could not raise the R50 000.

In his confession, the State claimed, Letuka said he was told Chika had to be killed as he was too close to the mayor. If he was killed, Letuka and his community would not be forced to leave their informal settlement, which the mayor was planning to destroy. Letuka had also been told that Chika’s death would give them access to tenders from the municipality. He had later heard Chika had been killed. Letuka has denied making the confession.

The State claimed Dodovu – who said in his bail application that he had attended an ANC meeting on the day the murder was allegedly planned – could not account for some of his movements around the time when the meeting on the assassination plot was held. He said his bodyguards could attest to his whereabouts, but the State produced a letter that showed Dodovu had asked that his bodyguards be withdrawn in the run-up to and during the Mangaung conference. The eight are expected to hear today whether they will be granted bail.

Pretoria News