Durban - Men, and not women, would have led an angry group of IFP supporters, had their intention been to attack an opposition party leader's house, the Durban Regional Court heard on Thursday.
“If we were up to a fight, men would lead,” said Zamokwakhe Ntuli, who was giving evidence in the trial of three men accused of killing Inkatha Freedom Party supporter Cebisile Shezi last year.
Ntuli said the fact that women headed the march to the KwaMashu police station in October last year meant the march past the house of National Freedom Party (NFP) councillor Mgezeni “Bhungu” Gwala was peaceful.
Gwala, his son Celimpilo “Mjabelelwa” Gwala, and security guard Skhumbuzo Nxumalo are accused of killing Shezi on October 6 last year.
She was shot shortly after Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa addressed IFP supporters at a sports field in A-section KwaMashu, in an attempt to reduce tensions after the abduction and death of IFP councillor Themba Xulu.
Ntuli said that only women had been singing during the march.
“We (the men) would have been singing if we were going to war.”
According to him, the IFP supporters had decided to march to the police station to await news of their missing councillor.
Under cross-examination from Gwala's lawyer Simphiwe Moloi, Ntuli said he never saw any of the marchers carrying pangas and spears. At no stage had they approached the Gwalas' house.
He said that he was on the railway bridge when the shooting started.
“Initially I did not see where the gunshots were coming from. I stood there on the bridge, shocked.”
He then fled from the shooting but returned soon after and was one of the first to reach Shezi's body.
He did not hear any shooting coming from the marchers.
He also did not see Bhungu Gwala shooting Ä only Gwala's son, Celimpilo, and Nxumalo.
“I did not see him shooting.”
He only saw Gwala after the shooting, holding a handgun pointed to the ground and talking on a cellphone.
The trial was adjourned to October 14.
Sapa