Yende murder accused refused bail
‘Ngwenya may contact witnesses’
The mother of slain Eskom technician Thembisile Yende has appealed to her daughter’s alleged killer to reveal the names of his accomplices in the murder.
Nesta Yende made the appeal yesterday soon after Eskom employee David Ngwenya, 44, who is accused of Yende’s killing, was denied bail in the Springs Magistrate’s Court on the East Rand.
In reaction to the bail judgment, Nesta said: “He must point them all out to the police. I will be more happier when justice is served.”
Nesta also led a march by relatives, family and community members outside court to oppose Ngwenya being given bail.
Ngwenya is accused of killing Yende out of fear that she would spill the beans on his alleged syndicate dealing in copper cable theft.
Handing down her judgment yesterday, magistrate Cornell Pretorius slammed Ngwenya, saying his evidence fell short of satisfying the court to release him on bail.
“Ngwenya should have given reasons in his evidence [rather] than to dispute the allegations. There is likelihood that if released on bail he might tamper with the ongoing investigations, and the nature of the crime is serious and strong.
“The investigation to collect outstanding statements from witnesses, including Eskom employees, is still under way.”
Pretorius further said that having weighed the interest of justice, the court found that Ngwenya had failed to provide enough evidence for bail.
The court also heard how the key witness, a sangoma, had to flee his home in Springs for his mother’s house in Soweto after two armed men went looking for him.
The witness also fled Soweto where he was forced to hide in the ceiling when two men again came looking for him.
Pretorius said, according to the evidence, Ngwenya and two men known as Mkhize and Mpho, made contact with the sangoma to perform a cleansing ceremony for their crime to remain invisible after they allegedly killed Yende. The two men are still at large.
The court heard that Ngwenya was in a relationship with Yende for over a year and was a frequent visitor at the Pieterboth substation.
The court also heard that Yende had lodged several complaints against Ngwenya over irregularities at work.
Pretorius said the state was still waiting for forensic evidence t on Yende’s death.
The case was postponed to July 17 for further investigations.