Rapper unfazed by murder charge

Femicide accused Pitch Black Afro in high spirits

Rapper Thulani Ngcobo, better known as Pitch Black Afro, pictured, was yesterday charged with premeditated murder and defeating the ends of justice.

Ngcobo appeared at the Johannesburg magistrate’s court on a charge of killing his wife, 41-year-old Catherine (Trisha) Modisane, at a bed-and-breakfast outlet in Yeoville on New Year’s Eve.

The matter, which was set down for early morning yesterday, was moved to 2pm as a result of new developments.

It was eventually postponed to Tuesday for Ngcobo’s details to be verified and to allow him to apply for legal aid.

Ngcobo was in high spirits, giving a salute and a “yebo” when he entered the courtroom. The hip hop star was dressed in a long-sleeved green shirt.

The rapper gave his manager Bheki Mlambo a letter that he said was for the most important woman in his life.

It is not clear if the letter will be read at his wife’s funeral today.

“Keep it safe for me Bheki. I beg you,” said Ngcobo.

A visibly shaken childhood friend was around to give support to Ngcobo in the absence of the rapper’s family.

The friend, who did not want to be identified, said he knew the couple from when they were teenagers.

The friend said: “Thulani has a short temper but we always knew that Trisha could calm him down.”

He said he last saw the couple two weeks before the killing of Modisane, explaining that they were in a jolly mood. “They were happy and they were fine.” However, he said the couple fought a lot but did that in their private space.

According to a reliable source, Ngcobo phoned the police after his wife had died and preliminary investigations found that she had died of natural causes and an inquest docket was opened.

However, the pathologist leading the case later found that she had died from unnatural causes and a murder investigation was subsequently opened.

The rapper became a household name from 2004 with a breakthrough debut via the album Styling Gel.

The strength of his sharp and witty rhyme was from the streets of Soweto where he grew up.