Courtroom wife killer’s funeral held

SERGEANT Phumlani Chiliza who allegedly shot his wife and brotherin-law dead before turning the gun on himself during divorce proceedings in the Durban Magistrate Court was laid to rest yesterday in Hibberdene on the South Coast.

Chiliza allegedly shot his wife Dibuseng Moss-chiliza, 33, who was sitting with her 26-year-old brother, G Moss, on Monday. Her brother also succumbed to gunshot injuries.

Chiliza, 32, died in hospital on Monday night. He was a police officer employed at protection and security services in Kwamashu.

A large police contingent in full state uniform gathered to pay tribute at his family home in Kwahlongwa village. Neighbours also packed the white marquee.

A family member asked not to be bothered and asked that the family be left alone because they were not there when the shooting happened.

“The person who knows what transpired is lying in the coffin. We as the family have nothing to say,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dibuseng’s uncle Patrick Makinita said the siblings’ death was a big blow to the family.

He said transporting both bodies from Durban to Lichtenburg in North West cost them R32000.

He said that they were now financially ruined and had no idea how they were going to afford the funeral costs next weekend.

“We are left with absolutely nothing. We have spent lots of money educating both siblings but some maniac decided to take their lives. “They died without fully accomplishing their goals in life. It is a sad reality that the family is struggling to accept,” he said.

Makinita said Dibuseng was based in Durban working as an IT specialist.

He said she lived with Chiliza until he started abusing her.

“Dibuseng could not take it anymore so she went to the police station to report him. He was stripped of his service pistol because he had become dangerous to her,” he said.

Makinita said their funeral was supposed to take place yesterday but because of the delay in the postmortem results, and the financial costs to bury them, the ceremony will be held next week.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development John Jeffery will visit the Durban Magistrate’s Court tomorrow following the fatal shooting.