Greed fuelled Musgrave murder
DETAILS on how a domestic worker plotted with her boyfriend to rob her employer of gold and diamond jewellery, cash and foreign currency emerged in the Durban Magistrate’s Court yesterday (Tuesday).
Nonjabulo Mteki, 33, of Umlazi, along with Kennedy Amon Ngongi, 28, and Ally Jumah Abdullah, 39, both Tanzanian nationals, have been charged with robbery and the murder of Shakila Singh at her upmarket flat in Musgrave Road on February 29.
A fourth suspect, believed to be Mteki’s boyfriend, Kenny Osita Okiri, is on the run.
In indictments served on the suspects yesterday, Singh, a retired teacher and widow, formerly of Umzinto, had been living with her son, Yashmeir, in the gated complex.
Mteki had been working for Singh as a domestic worker from 2004.
The State has alleged that Mteki was in a relationship with Okiri, who was in the business of buying and selling gold and other precious metals or stones.
He had established from Mteki that Singh was in possession of many pieces of gold and diamond jewellery, cash and foreign currency which was kept at her home.
They plotted to rob the deceased of these items together with Abdullah and Ngongi, the State alleged.
According to the indictments, the accused had a meeting at Albert Park in Durban prior to the incident.
On the morning of February 29, Singh had been lying on her bed while her son prepared to go to work. Mteki had been attending to household chores.
It has been alleged that soon after Yashmeir left, Mteki alerted Okiri.
He then dropped off Abdullah and Ngongi outside the complex.
They gained access into the property using a gate remote which was allegedly supplied to them by Mteki.
The suspects entered Singh’s home through a gate which had been left unlocked by Mteki, the State alleged.
Throttled
Ngongi and Abdullah bound Mteki’s hands and feet and went into Singh’s bedroom where they robbed and throttled her. They then fled the scene, taking with them four cellphones, an electronic tablet, an 18-carat gold and diamond ring, three designer watches (Michel Herbelin, Fossil and Guess), six pairs of 18-carat gold and diamond earrings, a mungalsutra neck chain, 10 pairs of 18-carat gold bangles, cash and foreign currency valued at R1 000.
The post-mortem results were not conclusive but it was mentioned that suffocation must be considered.
A total of 34 witnesses are expected to testify for the State.
Ngongi and Abdullah were arrested in Durban in March by members of the Provincial Task Team.
All three are awaiting trial at Westville Prison.