Johannesburg - Murder accused Ntuthuko Shoba still insists that he was not the mastermind in the murder of 8-month pregnant Tshegofatso Pule.
Shoba appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on Monday for his second bid for bail.
During his appearance the defence argued that new information shows that he was not the alleged mastermind and that he posed no threat to witnesses should he be granted bail.
Shoba’s lawyer, Shaddy Sithole, said his client had willingly assisted the police to track down Pule’s killer by alerting them of the CCTV footage from his Westlake complex in Florida.
“The applicant’s conduct and initiatives guided Florida SAPS to the CCTV footage from the word go … his conduct assisted the police and shows he did not tamper with such evidence.
“It is exceptional that he alerted police to the footage in his complex.”
Shoba should be granted bail so that he could attend to his employment matter, he added. It was learnt on Monday that Shoba would be appealing against the Johannesburg Stock Exchange’s decision to fire him. The JSE said last week that Shoba was no longer an employee.
In earlier court appearances, Shoba had told the court that he was placed on cautionary leave and his further incarceration would cost him his job.
The defence stated various reasons why Shoba should be released on bail, among them, that he was a first time offender; would not abscond from his trial; he was not a flight risk and that he co-operated with police. The State is opposing bail, arguing there are no exceptional circumstances and that Shoba should remain in custody.
Pule’s family spokesperson, Botlhale Modisane, said: “He’s worried about losing his job; we’ve lost lives.”
Shoba stands accused of premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit murder, among others. The body of 8-month pregnant Pule was found with multiple stab wounds and hanging from a tree in an open veld in Roodepoort.
Shoba allegedly conspired with convicted murderer Muzikayise Malephane to kill Pule for R70 000. Judgment in Shoba’s second bid for bail is due on May 7.
The Star