‘Dog’ gives journos the finger

The man accused of shooting to death his former girlfriend, Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) student Zolile Khumalo, casually lifted his middle finger to journalists in court yesterday.

It was Thabani Mzolo’s third appearance at the Durban Regional Court, where he is trying to apply for bail. Before magistrate Mohammed Motala had left the courtroom, Mzolo turned to journalists capturing images of him and extended his finger, which elicited a reprimand from Motala.

Prior to this, the court heard that Mzolo had shot Khumalo twice and then kicked her as she lay on the floor of her residence room.

Deputy Minister of Police Bongani Mkongi, who attended proceedings, said afterwards the gesture made him “very angry”. “It shows us that this dog doesn’t have any remorse. By showing the people the middle finger, it tells all of us that he is prepared to kill again and doesn’t respect anyone,” said Mkongi.

Mzolo is facing a schedule six offence, which demands that bail only be granted in exceptional circumstances. At his appearance last week, the court heard that Mzolo had a previous assault conviction.

His address still remains in dispute, leading to yesterday’s postponement for a formal bail application to June.

Clad in a two-toned jacket and blue jeans, the slim 23-year-old cut an initially subdued, but somewhat cocky, figure.

At his first appearance, Mzolo garnered the wrath of community members for grinning and appearing to make a trigger sign when leaving the courtroom.

Mzolo is alleged to have gained access to the MUT off-campus Lonsdale residence in May, made his way to the first-year student’s room and shot her dead with an unlicensed firearm. He then appeared to confess to the crime through a series of social media posts. – ANA