Funeral boss denied bail

Applicant ‘a danger’ to ex-girlfriend

IT WAS another day of revelations from funeral parlour boss Mzimkhulu Nomnganga whose bail application was emphatically denied in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

The three-hour hearing saw Nomnganga’s Advocate Ntsikelelo Lufele cross-examining the case’s investigating officer Sergeant Nosipho Bawuti.

Bawuti had opposed his bail based mainly on Nomnganga’s previous convictions and her fears that he would kill ex-girlfriend Unathi Miti.

Nomnganga, 48, is charged with attempted murder and intimidation after he allegedly threatened his ex-girlfriend and mother of his child Miti, 29, and then stabbed her four times in the back.

Magistrate Noluntu Mkwali denied Nomnganga bail on grounds that “he is a danger to Miti”.

Nomnganga held his head in his hands when Bawuti read a thread of WhatsApp messages in which he sent death threats to Miti.

Bawuti testified the messages showed Nomnganga was prepared to kill Miti and go to jail for the crime.

In the messages Nomnganga sent to Miti on May 29, he said:

“I love you babe but I have taken the decision to take your life because my life is horrible because of you.

“All the nine years we have been living together you go around telling people that you are living in fear because of me. You made me a laughing stock among people. Rest in peace, I was going to marry you but now I will marry you in a coffin.”

On Tuesday, Nomnganga told the court he stabbed Miti because she was the reason his wife left him. He also said he and his wife were in a process of a divorce. He also said he and Miti had lived together for nine years.

He told the court he needed bail because he had to take care of his businesses and provide for all of his five children.

However on Thursday, prosecutor Bawuti submitted that Nomnganga’s wife, Nobabini Mandela, had said she did not receive a cent from him for child support and she left Mdantsane because “he [Nomnganga] was abusive towards her and she has a protection order filed against him,” said Bawuti.

Mkwali said: “It is common cause that the complainant [Nomnganga] is an abusive man. It is clear he is also cheating. He has five children with different mothers, some children are of the same age. If that is the case, who is assaulting him for that?” said Mkwali.

Bawuti said they had a strong case against Nomnganga once the trail started.Nomnganga was remand ed in jail. The case continues on July 9. —