Nine in court for dealer’s murder
THE TRIAL of the nine men accused of robbing and killing a Galeshewe drug dealer, John Oliphant, started in the Northern Cape High Court yesterday.
The men – Godfrey Makaleni, Itumeleng Makaloi, Neo Pule, Nkosinathi Mpungose, Sipho Buthelezi, Bongani Ndlela, Deon van Staden, Thamsanqa Shezi and Gunda Mtshali–are accused of kidnapping, robbing and killing Oliphant on September 24, 2016.
The State, represented by advocate Hannes Cloete, alleges that the accused kidnapped Oliphant, stole his white Toyota Camry and drugs belonging to him, inflicted bodily harm on him and were armed with a firearm.
The charge of robbery relates to the accused allegedly stealing cash, old coins, jewellery, Krugerrands, drugs and suspected diamonds, gold and platinum from Oliphant.
Ndlela and Van Staden are facing further charges of attempted murder, where it is alleged that they attempted to kill a police officer by shooting at him on September 30, 2016.
All men pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and denied having played any part in the incident on September 24, 2016.
According to Makaleni he was not in Kimberley on the night of the incident.
“On September 24, 2016 I left Kimberley for Koffiefontein and I remained there until I was arrested. I deny any involvement in the incident or the planning, including the execution, thereof,” his alibi read.
Makaloi also indicated that he would provide an alibi.
“On September 24, 2016 I met with Mqambeni Ndlela, the State witness in the matter, outside the house of my father. Ndlela and I are both taxi drivers and we left to drive our taxis. However, our taxis were not present on the day and I went home to my shanty where I was in the company of my girlfriend until the next day, Sunday, September 25, 2016,” said Makaloi.
Pule said he also had an alibi who could prove where he was at the time of the incident.
“I went to a Heritage Day event and came back at around 1pm when I met Mpungose. We went to Club 2000 and bought some dagga. We went back home and smoked the dagga. I remained home and went to bed at around 8pm that night and I woke up the next morning. I deny any involvement in the matter as alleged by the State,” Pule said.
While Buthelezi denied any involvement in the matter, he admitted to driving Oliphant’s vehicle.
“I drove the white Toyota Camry on the night of the incident. I got the vehicle from Mqambeni Ndlela, the State witness in the case. He also lent me R2 000, which I used to buy dagga. I left the car with the keys inside the ignition and went to fetch the dagga. Upon my return the car was gone. Bystanders told me that the police had taken the vehicle. I deny having any part in the crimes alleged by the State,” Buthelezi submitted.
The State alleges that Makaleni was employed by Oliphant, a known drug dealer, and that on the day of the incident, the State witness, Mqambeni Ndlela, who is the brother of one of the accused, Bongani Ndlela, met with Makaloi and they went to Bongani’s house, where they met Makaleni and Ndlela. The four men smoked dagga and Makaleni and Ndlela spoke about how they wanted to rob the deceased.
Makaleni then allegedly told the men that he knew how they could set a trap for Oliphant by pretending that they wanted to buy drugs from him. He told the men that the deceased lived with an elderly blind woman and that the keys to his house, the gates and the safe were attached to his car keys. The plan was to phone Oliphant and to put in an order for drugs, however Makaleni did not have Oliphant’s cellphone number.
It is further alleged that Ndlela then called Mtshali to ask for the number and told him to come to his house. While the men were waiting for Mtshali, Pule, Mpungose and Van Staden also arrived at the house. When Mtshali arrived, he was informed of the plan and he provided Oliphant’s number. Makaleni called the deceased and ordered mandrax and tik from him.
The eight men then headed to Shezi’s home to get more information about Oliphant as he had also bought drugs from him. Makaleni, Pule and Ndlela spoke to Shezi and told him of the plan. They promised Mtshali a cut of the loot.
Ndlela and Buthelezi were present at Mtshali’s house and requested to go with the men. The men, excluding Shezi, went back to Ndlela’s house and the details of the plan and everyone’s roles were discussed. The men had cable ties and a pliers in their possession. The pliers were to be used to pull out the teeth of the deceased should he not want to tell them where the valuables were inside his house. Ndlela allegedly had an illegal 9mm pistol, with the serial number removed, in his possession.
After about 8pm on the night, Makaleni called the deceased and made an appointment to meet in Donkerhoek after he placed an order for 100 mandrax tablets and five grams of tik. The State witness, Mqambeni Ndlela, along with Makaloi, Pule, Mpungose, Van Staden and Mtshali, waited at West End Hospital while Makaleni, Buthelezi and Bongani Ndlela went to meet with Oliphant.
It is alleged that Makaleni, Buthelezi and Bongani Ndlela overpowered Oliphant and threatened him with a firearm to force him to co-operate. The three accused, together with Oliphant, drove with the latter’s vehicle to West End Hospital. Buthelezi apparently drove the vehicle and they met with Pule, Mpungose and Van Staden. The men then drove into the veld with the car. Later that night, Makaleni, Buthelezi and Ndlela returned the car to West End Hospital. However, the deceased was not inside the car.
Thereafter Makaleni, Makaloi, Buthelezi, Ndlela and Mtshali, together with the State witness, went to Oliphant’s home. Buthelezi waited inside the car. The elderly blind woman was inside the house and Makaleni told her that they had been sent by Oliphant. They allegedly stole various items and then headed to Ndlela’s house to split the loot. Buthelezi then left in Oliphant’s vehicle, which was found by the police in Weenen in KwaZulu-Natal.
Oliphant’s body was found in a veld in Galeshewe on September 25, 2016. He had been tied with a safety belt from his car and cable ties. According to the autopsy the cause of death was strangulation.
The case continues today.