Date for murder trial of widow

A TRIAL date has been set for primary school teacher Bulelwa Ndudula, who is accused of killing her husband, social development chief of staff Sakhekile Ndudula, in their Cambridge West home last September.

East London High Court judge Igna Stretch ruled yesterday that Ndudula, 44, would go on trial in the high court on December 12 to December 15.

The state will seek a sentence of life imprisonment, arguing that the murder was premeditated.

Senior state prosecuting advocate Zukile Mdolomba has been appointed to lead the case against Ndudula.

The mother of two is pleading not guilty, having previously denied in court that she killed her husband.

Sakhekile died at Life St Dominic’s Hospital after being shot seven times in his Cambridge West home on the morning of September 14 last year.

At the time of his death, Sakhekile was the chief of staff in Eastern Cape social development MEC Nancy Sihlwayi’s office.

Advocate Mike Maseti will represent Ndudula in the trial. The widow was in court yesterday with members of her family, who were told to leave the courtroom ahead of her appearance due to security concerns.

Ndudula works as a maths and choir teacher at R H Godlo Primary School in Mdantsane’s NU5.

Police forensic officers who arrived at the Cambridge West home of the couple say they discovered that blood had been wiped off the floor and wall, and that further investigation revealed primary gun residue on Ndudula’s hand and clothing.

The court also heard that buttons from Ndudula’s shirt were found in the main bedroom, indicating a struggle.

It is the state’s case that Ndudula shot her husband seven times in a fit of jealousy.

To date police have not been able to recover the firearm used to commit the murder. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za