Woman accused of hiring hitman to kill mom-in-law, hubby cuts lonely figure

Blaming her mother-in-law for the breakdown of her marriage, a Nelson Mandela Bay woman allegedly went as far as hiring a hitman to kill her.

Appearing in the dock of the Gqeberha high court yesterday, Noloyiso Nkwitshi, 38, cut a lonely figure as the state indicated it was finalising a plea bargain with her lawyer.

The case was postponed to February 20 for that purpose.

Before her arrest in August 2020, Nkwitshi allegedly went on the run for more than a year.

She was eventually traced to Dutywa and has been in custody since.

Nkwitshi is accused of conspiring to have her mother-inlaw, Zoleka, as well as her estranged husband, Thando, murdered. She faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Thando survived the alleged murder attempt.

According to the indictment, on or about September 4 2015, Nkwitshi hatched a plan with at least one other person unknown to the state to have the mother and son killed.

According to the state, the relationship between Nkwitshi and her husband had become strained due to financial difficulties.

Thando then decided to move in with his mother at her Thokazi Street, NU12, home in Motherwell.

The prosecution alleges that Nkwitshi blamed Zoleka for the breakdown of her marriage.

She then allegedly hired a hitman to kill both Thando and Zoleka.

On October 4 2019, the alleged hitman stormed Zoleka’s home.

When Thando emerged, demanding to know who the man was, the intruder instead asked him where his mother was.

He then pulled out a firearm and a struggle ensued between the two.

During the tussle, a shot was fired, wounding Thando, who dropped to the ground.

The alleged hitman then went to the kitchen and shot Zoleka in the head before fleeing.

Zoleka died at the scene. According to the state, some time after the shooting, Nkwitshi allegedly confessed to a friend that she had planned and orchestrated the hit on her estranged husband and his mother.

She then allegedly fled Gqeberha.

Nkwitshi was arrested almost a year later, on August 6 2020, in Dutywa, nearly 500km away.

The state has a list of about 21 witnesses, including Nkwitshi’s friend, members of her family, neighbours, and officials from the police’s Cyber Crimes and Provincial Organised Crime units.

Yesterday, state advocate Liesel Landman said plea negotiations were nearly complete.

Nkwitshi’s defence advocate, Jodine Coertzen of Legal Aid SA, confirmed the position and agreed to the postponement.

Nkwitshi was then led back down to the holding cells.

She remains in custody.