‘NYATSI DIED IN VAIN’
Hubby didn’t pay lobolo, had no right over me wife
THE second wife of the man who allegedly killed her lover insisted yesterday that her husband had no right to attack her boyfriend because he did not pay lobolo for her.
Lungile MaMdluli Buthelezi, the second wife of Nkosinathi Bantubakhe Buthelezi, 40, who allegedly killed Khalami Ernest Shozi, 52, told the Durban High Court packed with her in-laws that she had cheated on Buthelezi because he did not own her.
During cross-examination by prosecutor Cheryl Naidu, MaMdluli revealed that Buthelezi had told her that he was going to attack Shozi after he had found out that she had a romantic relationship with the deceased.
“I was shocked to find out that on the night of June 27 2013, Shozi was attacked at the house he was renting,” MaMdluli testified.
“I was absolutely sure that it was Buthelezi who attacked, shot him and burnt Shozi’s vehicle.”
Buthelezi, who was a community liaison officer at Umkhanyakude district municipality, allegedly burnt Shozi’s vehicle and shot him twice in his left leg – warning him to stay away from his wife.
Shozi then confronted Buthelezi, pointed his finger at his eye and swore to harm him. MaMdluli insisted that Buthelezi should have just left her alone after finding out she was cheating on him because he was not going to lose anything as he did not pay lobolo for her.
When Buthelezi took the witness stand on Monday, he told the court that he had paid lobolo of R75 000 for MaMdluli.
MaMdluli denied that, saying Buthelezi merely bought an engagement ring and promised to pay lobola.
She said after Buthelezi realised that he had failed to separate them, he swore to kill Shozi or her.
Buthelezi allegedly shot Shozi three times in the chest in front of his wife at his home in KwaNdengezi, Durban, on August 11 2013.
Shozi had come to live in Hluhluwe area to work for a construction company when he fell in love with MaMdluli.
MaMdluli also said Buthelezi was lying when he said he was at Hluhluwe on the night Shozi was killed.
Buthelezi has pleaded not guilty to all counts including murder, attempted murder, possession of a prohibited firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.