LOGAN GOVENDER
A LAST minute bid by a witchdoctor to apply for bail after allegations that he masterminded the decapitation of a Shallcross mother is likely to be scuttled by the State in the Durban High Court today (Monday).
While it is unclear on what grounds the accused – Sibonakaliso Zaba Mbili, 32 – wants to apply for bail, the State is expected to strongly oppose the 11th hour request.
Also to be tried for the August 17, 2014, murder of Desiree Murugan, 39, pictured, are Mbili’s alleged right hand man, Vusumuzi Jabulani Gumede, 30, Thuso Stanley Thelejane, 19, and two juveniles – a girl and a boy aged 16.
Gumede is also facing charges of being an accessory after the fact and defeating the ends of justice.
Advocate Cheryl Naidu will lead the State’s case against the accused.
The State has alleged Murugan was murdered for muti purposes.
The State intends calling 46 witnesses. The key witnesses include two minors and convicted killer, Salakhe Knowledge Khumalo, 18, who pleaded guilty to beheading Murugan, a sex worker, at a sports ground in Shallcross.
Khumalo was jailed for life by magistrate Anand Maharaj in the Durban Magistrate’s Court last year.
The minor State witnesses apparently agreed to be part of the killer gang but backed away from the conspiracy allegedly led by Mbili and Gumede who are believed to have wanted the head of an Indian, white or coloured woman for muthi purposes.
The State is expected to call a police officer who was among the first officers at the crime scene to testify either today or tomorrow.
Apart from this witness there are 33 other police officers who will testify for the State.
In the indictment, the State said that upon delivery of the head, the co-accused were promised a reward of R2 million by Mbili and Gumede. Slick investigations by Warrant Officer Robin Singh and other police officers from the Chatsworth Violent Crimes Unit resulted in the arrests of Mbili, Gumede and their co accused before money changed hands.
The indictment said Mbili had given Khumalo seven sachets of a substance which Mbili termed muthi.
Khumalo was instructed to have it on him and to give the sachets to the other participants when the crime was committed. The conspirators ultimately decided that a prostitute would make a suitable victim.