Court told of night policeman killed
A MAN accused of murdering a policewoman in Veeplaas in 2012 blamed Livingstone Hospital yesterday for the wrong name appearing on his medical records when he was admitted for treatment for a gunshot injury he sustained during the incident.
State advocate Marlini Moodley asked Vuyani Zondani, 26, of Veeplaas, why medical records gave his name as Siyathanda Swaartbooi when he was treated for a gunshot wound to his abdomen on the morning of the incident.
Zondani, 26, of Veeplaas, has pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition related to the murder of Constable Thandiswa Bambiso. Bambiso’s partner, Constable Mongezi Mqina, was seriously injured in the same incident in the early hours of April 2 2012 in Sakhuba Street, Veeplaas, Port Elizabeth.
Yesterday Zondani denied he had given another name at the hospital.
“They got the name incorrect. I thought they would have corrected it,” he said. But Moodley put it to Zondani that one state witness – Constable Auwuren van Gent, of the Kwazakhele police station – had testified that when he found Zondani at Livingstone Hospital he had also introduced himself as Siyathanda Swaartbooi. But Zondani denied this. “I do not even remember talking to him at the hospital,” he said.
Zondani said he was at the Ghetto Lounge Night Club in Veeplaas on the morning of the incident when he walked his girlfriend home. He remained at her home for about 45 minutes before walking back.
He said he encountered three friends – Wanda, Wanda’s girlfriend Funeka, Mtreja and Msawawa – on his walk back to the club.
A police van approached them from behind and stopped alongside them.
“They said they wanted to search Wanda so I walked to the driver’s side because I was also expecting to be searched,” he said.
Zondani said he then saw Wanda firing a shot into the vehicle.
“I heard two further shots. I ran and went to a house that does not have a fence.
“When I looked at myself I saw blood on my pants and on my T-shirt.”
Zondani said he went to the first house where he knew the occupants and phoned his mother. His mother arrived and an ambulance took him to Livingstone Hospital.
Zondani also denied he was in possession of a firearm on the morning of the incident.
The trial continues today.