‘There was a plot against me’

PEOPLE had made statements to taint the image of suspended crime intelligence head Richard Mdluli, he told an inquest into the death of his love rival yesterday.

“Many people were promised many things to write statements tainting me,” Mdluli told the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court, where the inquest is being held.

“Some were even beaten,” he added.

The inquest is into the death, 13 years ago, of Oupa Ramogibe, who was shot dead while showing a policeman a place where he had previously been shot at.

Under cross-examination by State advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, Mdluli maintained that there was a plot against him to prevent him from being appointed as the head of crime intelligence.

Gcaleka asked Mdluli: “Why would the [Ramogibe] family conspire with the police?”

Mdluli, who was wearing a black-and-charcoal-striped suit, replied: “I don’t know.”

He told the court it was not necessary for him to take action to clear his name regarding newspaper articles in which allegations against him had been made.

The inquest heard that Mdluli went to the Ramogibe family’s house only once.

Gcaleka referred to transcripts of Mdluli’s bail application, in which it was said he went to the Ramogibe family’s house “at certain times”.

Gcaleka said this meant he went there several times.

Mdluli replied: “The person who typed the transcripts… made a mistake.”

Ike Motloung, for Mdluli, pointed out other mistakes in the bail application transcripts.

Mdluli was accused of the murder with Samuel Dlomo, Colonel Nkosana Sebastian Ximba and Lieutenant-Colonel Mtunzi-Omhle Mthembeni Mtunzi, but the charge was provisionally withdrawn in February pending the outcome of the inquest. Also withdrawn were charges of intimidation, kidnapping, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit murder.

The inquest continues. – Sapa