Damning evidence heard as Mohapi trial nears end
GEORGE - More damning evidence was heard in the George Circuit High Court during the past week as two state witnesses testified in the murder trial of Hlompho Mohapi (Koloi).
Besides being accused of 25-year-old Mohapi's brutal murder, self-ordained pastor Melisizwe Monqo (33), his wife Siphoshile Pamba (27) and cousin Phumlani Quesheka (31) are also accused of conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder relating to incidents that took place in the Eastern Cape prior to Mohapi's murder in George on 5 July 2018.
On Wednesday morning, 17 February, a state witness (20) from King William's Town took to the stand. He used to be the driver at Monqo's church, God's Work Ministries.
He told the court that in June 2017 he was asked to drive the pastor to a mall near where Booi was. According to him it was late, but he couldn't remember the exact time. He said when they arrived, Monqo put on a balaclava and he had a knife in his hand. The court heard that Monqo went up to Booi, a struggle ensued and he stabbed her in the face. The witness then ran back to the car and drove off. He did not know where Monqo was at that stage. Nearly a year later, on 5 May 2018, he was also witness to the attempted murder on Booi's life in Queenstown where Monqo allegedly tried to shoot her. Again he was the driver.
During his testimony, the witness complained of not feeling well and the trial was postponed to this morning, Thursday 18 February. On Tuesday 16 February, a financial advisor from Old Mutual testified about property that Pamba wanted to buy and money that she wanted to invest. She allegedly did not have money for either of these at that time.
Last week, a different state witness (36) from King William's Town recounted previous attempts to murder Booi that he had been involved in. He was cross-examined by the defence on Monday 15 February.
Die buurtwagte van Conville, Protea Park, Rosemoor en Borcherds het Sondagmiddag, 14 Februarie, 'n optog gehou teen misdaad in hul woonbuurte. Dit is onder andere misdade soos roof, inbrake by huise, gryp van items uit motors by verkeersligte en grypdiewe wat voetgangers met hulle inkopies teiken, wat groot kommer wek.
Rudi Lewis van Conville-buurtwag sê hulle wou graag die breër gemeenskap inlig oor brandpunte in hul areas waar inwoners vir hul eie veiligheid waaksaam moet wees.
“Die Nelson Mandela-rylaan is veral 'n brandpunt vir misdaad, en mense luister nie na waarskuwings nie.
“Hulle loop met hul duur selfone wat gegryp word en dan is dit weg. Ons vra dat mense hul deure moet sluit, nie items op die sitplek los nie, nie met 'n oop venster ry nie en nie op 'n selfoon praat nie, want jou aandag is afgetrek.”
Lewis sê die tema van Sondag se plakkaatoptog was, 'Genoeg is Genoeg'. Hy meen gemeenskappe is ook moeg van die "klein jakkalsies, soos die harde musiek van jou buurman wat jou grensloos frustreer en onenigheid veroorsaak".
In 'n onlangse voorval het mense slaags geraak met mekaar nadat een van die bure oor die ander se harde musiek gekla het. "Mense het seergekry en van hulle moes ook mediese behandeling kry."
Lewis sê na dié voorval het die leiers vergaderings gehou wat op drie onderskeie plekke gehou is. Volgens Lewis was die gemeenskap teenwoordig en kon hulle daar praat oor dinge wat hulle pla.
In nog 'n insident die afgelope Sondagoggend by die Nuwe Apostoliese Kerk in Conville, is iemand deur vier onbekende mans beroof net na hy die kerk se deur oopgesluit het. Lewis sê mense is baie ontsteld dat nie eens die kerk oorgesien word nie.
Hy sê buurtwagte doen ook 'n beroep op ouers om nie hul kinders, veral jong kinders, wat betrokke is by bende-aktiwiteite, weg te steek nie. "Ouers moet weer verantwoordelikheid neem vir hul kinders se aksies, veral as hulle weet daardie kind is betrokke by ongerymdhede. Praat met jou kind en maak seker dat hulle nie laatnag rondloop nie." Baie keer raak kinders betrokke by dinge omdat hulle laatnag saam met vriende rondstap, asof hulle nie ouers het wat omgee nie.