Bozwana duo ‘tortured to confess’

PRETORIA: The two men charged in connection with the murder of prominent North West businessman Wandile Bozwana claimed in court yesterday that they had been tortured and made to confess.

Sipho Dludla and Matamela Motapa are accused of murdering Bozwana in October on a Gauteng highway, but in a submission handed in to the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court yesterday, the men claimed to have been assaulted, suffocated and forced to sign confessions after being arrested.

It was their second court appearance before Magistrate Magowanbal Naidoo.

Defence counsel Advocate Victor Nkhwashu said: “The accused informed me during the consultations that they were made to sign confessions and they have signed those confessions, however, they would like to place on record that those confessions were not made freely and voluntarily.

“They informed me that they were assaulted, tortured, and their faces were covered with a tube that suffocated them to a point where they had to agree to sign the confession forms.

“They also said that they were forced to point out particular scenes against their will, and photographs were taken at those scenes.”

Dludla and Motapa turned down the State’s offer for medical intervention, saying there was no longer needed for them to be hospitalised as they had already recovered from their injuries.

Prosecutor Matric Luphondo said the State noted the defence’s submission that the accused had been tortured during arrest, but said this was irrelevant at present.

The accused indicated that they did not wish to apply for bail and were happy to remain in custody until February when they would appear again. They are being held at the Kgosi Mampuru II Prison.

Nkhwashu had also earlier claimed that the accused had not been able to consult with their legal representatives ahead of their first court appearance as the defence was not informed where they were being detained.

Bozwana was killed on October 2 when gunmen opened fire on the vehicle he was travelling in on the N1 highway east of Pretoria.

The matter was postponed to February 17. – ANA