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MBABANE - The businessman who allegedly shot his partner, who was a teacher in cold blood at Siphofaneni, reportedly killed her with the hope that he will inherit her assets.
It is also alleged that after killing her, he went around bragging that he had ended her life.
This is contained in an opposing affidavit filed by the investigator of the matter, Siphofaneni Police Station Desk Officer, Assistant Inspector Sandile Dlamini.
Sifiso Pirrie Dlamini stands accused of having a hand in the death of Zanele Angel Shongwe. It alleged that Pirrie, who is also a public transport operator, committed the offence at Othandweni in the Lubombo Region, on January 2, 2023.
“It is worth mentioning that the accused planned and set off to murder Zanele as he is hoping to inherit the assets that were owned by the deceased. These assets include a kombi that services the Siphofaneni- Matata route,” submitted Assistant Inspector Dlamini.
Through his attorney Sinakekelwe Mhlanga of Mabila Attorneys, the accused has since moved an urgent bail application at the High Court, where he entreated with the court to release him on bail since he was not a flight risk. His plea to be released on bail is being met with resistance from the Crown, which is of the view that it would not be in the public interest to release him on bail and that his safety was not guaranteed.
In his bail application, the accused claimed that Zanele got shot in a scuffle and it was not his intention to kill her. He alleged that he was carrying the gun because he was from hunting.
Inform
In his opposing papers, Assistant Inspector Dlamini went on to inform the court that the evidence in their possession pointed to the accused as the person responsible for the murder of Zanele.
“I submit that the accused planned to murder the deceased. After he had committed the offence, evidence in our possession indicates that he bragged to certain individuals that he has murdered Zanele,” submitted the investigator.
The investigator further submitted that their investigations revealed that on the day Zanele was murdered, purportedly by the accused, earlier that day he (accused) had met a certain Dlamini, who was on his way to Siphofaneni and he offered him a ride to town. It alleged that at that time, the accused was on his way to kill the deceased.
“On his way back after he had committed the offence, he met the same Dlamini whom he had earlier given a ride and told him that he had killed his wife. Along the way, he offered a ride to a certain woman who is a witness in this matter; he also told her that he had killed his wife. He went further and divulged that he shot his wife in the head,” submitted Assistant Inspector Sandile.
The investigator also denied the assertion by the accused that Zanele was his lover. According to the investigator, the accused was married to Zanele and together they had a child, who was about two years old.
“Our investigations revealed that Zanele and the accused had long-standing domestic woes which resulted in her (Zanele) seeking a restraining order against the accused. I submit that it is untrue that there was a scuffle that took place between the accused and Zanele,” contended Assistant Inspector Sandile. The investigator brought it to the attention of the court that there were witnesses who were inside the house who saw what transpired.
“The accused found Zanele outside, later they heard a gun going off in the premises. I submit that the accused never came into the house and no scuffle ensued. Had he come with good intentions he would have entered through the gate and would not have been carrying a gun,” argued Assistant Inspector Dlamini.
The investigator brought it to the attention of the court that Zanele’s children who were inside the house heard the gunshot, quickly rushed outside and the deceased was already lying in a pool of blood.
Begged
“In front of the deceased’s children the accused again loaded and bridged his gun and the children begged him to stop what he was doing,” argued the investigator.
Assistant Inspector Dlamini said it would not be in the interest of justice to release the accused on bail as there was a likelihood that public order would be disturbed. He informed the court that the situation was still volatile.
“There are still ongoing threats against the accused and his properties. Just last week I received reports to the effect that the accused’s home had been burnt by angry residents. I rushed there only to find that it was not burnt,” submitted the law enforcer. He highlighted to the court that, a day after the commission of the offence, the deceased’s home was burnt down by angry residents who had taken the law into their own hands.
“The investigations regarding the burning of the home are still ongoing and leads are that relatives of the deceased are involved, hence it will not be safe to release the accused on bail.
“There is a likelihood that his life will be in danger and the community will be outraged and this will disturb public order,” he argued
The investigator further notified the court that the deceased was prominent in the transport industry and the accused was just a driver who happened to be her husband.
“I submit that the life of the accused person is in danger as there was an incident after the commission of the offence, wherein relatives of the deceased went to the bus rank and grabbed a kombi owned by the deceased, which was being driven by the accused. The grabbing incident was so violent,” averred Assistant Inspector Dlamini.
The bail application is still pending at the High Court and appearing for the Crown is Precious Dlamini from the chamber of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).