Grim details on councillor’s husband’s killing
ANC COUNCILLOR Magdalene Titus appeared at the Oudtshoorn Regional Court yesterday after she was implicated in the murder of her husband Preston Titus.
Magdalene and her friend Natasha Stuurman were incriminated by convicted murderer Sixabiso Klip, who in his plea and sentence agreement detailed how the military base murder was planned.
Another accused, Justice Mooi, is appearing in a bail application proceedings for this matter, while a fourth suspect, known only, as Vusumzi, is being sought by police.
Preston, a soldier, was stabbed to death at the Oudtshoorn military base on December 2 last year.
Magdalene, who is a member of the provincial ANC national executive committee, and Stuurman were arrested on Friday.
Klip, who was Magdalene’s driver, said she had been having an affair and offered to pay R30 000 to her husband’s killers.
According to his plea, Klip said Magdalene met with Mooi in Port Elizabeth. He said the two spoke for about 10 minutes, discussing Preston’s murder. He said they were introduced to each other by a man known as Masithembe January.
It is alleged Mooi and Vusumzi travelled from PE to Oudtshoorn to carry out the murder. In Oudtshoorn they stayed at Stuurman’s home, where meetings with Magdalene were held.
In his plea Klip said the initial arrangement was for the two travellers to bring guns, but instead they brought knives and brake fluid, which angered Magdalene.
“Maggie (referring to Magdalene) wanted to know how many drops she must put in the husband’s drink. Justice replied, but the accused (Klip) cannot recall exactly what Justice said, how many drops she must use,” said the plea.
The second plan was then to drug Preston with sleeping tablets, put them in his food, and then the assassins would arrive and do the crime.
“Maggie said the job should be done during the day and that she will take the children away and the husband will be alone at home,” the plea further stated.
Later that day it is alleged Magdalene called the killers, saying she was going to town with the children. The accused then headed to the military base.
Mooi and Vusumzi went into Magdalene’s house, while Klip remained in the car. He said Mooi returned with bloody trousers.
“After about 20-plus minutes the two males returned and they had a second black bag in their possession. They got into the car and the accused (Klip) could smell that Justice smelt like pepper spray,” the plea stated.
Magdalene and Stuurman will apply for bail on January 29. A decision on Mooi’s bail request is pending.