Mogwase - Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD) councillor Napoleon Webster and 13 others accused of murder in Marikana pleaded not guilty at the North West High Court sitting in Mogwase, near Rustenburg, on Monday.
"I am not guilty, I admit that Sabata was killed. I did not participate in his murder. I was not present at the time of the murder. I was at a community meeting conducting workshop for students who want to study at universities," Webster said in his plea statement.
He denied attending any meeting in Marikana.
The State alleges Webster, Aubrey Seitsang, Sibonile Sobopha, Mdlondozi Fundiwo, Herbert Baqhesi, William Nyenyane, Aphndile Pungone, Samson Gqwetani, Gift Luveli, Nkululeko Msithwa, Nkosindiphile Nziyose, Luvo Soyizwaphi, Sivuyile Qasha and Mzolisi Mbulana hacked Sabata Petros Chale, 39, to death in Marikana West, on December 8, 2016, allegedly over the allocation of low cost (RDP) houses at Marikana West Extension 2.
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Doctor Moeti Isaac Siko who conducted a post mortem on Chale, told the court Chale was stabbed several times and died due to injuries he sustained. He was stabbed six times in the head, stabbed in the left shoulder, and both his flanks had a stab wound each.
He told the court Chale also had a fractured skull due to a stabbing inflicted on his head with a sharp object, while his lung was punctured and had collapsed as result of the stabbing.
Chale was a leader of the SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in Marikana.