Court told of attack on Mozambican

THE Alexandra Magistrate’s Court yesterday heard how Mozambican hawker Emmanuel Sithole was attacked and how his alleged killers were arrested.

Sizwe Mngomezulu and Sifundo Mzimela, both 21, were applying for bail before magistrate Syta Prinsloo.

Mngomezulu, Mzimela, Mthinto Bhengu and a fourth accused, who it emerged yesterday was still a minor, were initially accused of killing Sithole in Alexandra, last month. Earlier yesterday, the State withdrew its case against the minor. It emerged in court that he was 17 years old and may not be named. His name and photograph had earlier been widely published before his age was known.

A trial date for Bhengu was still to be determined by the court, prosecutor Joe Tloubatla said.

Investigating officer Constable Bheki Mhlongo told the court that all four were arrested after police officers reconstructed the crime scene using press photographs.

Mhlongo said Sithole was attacked while selling sweets and cigarettes. The four accused approached him, Mhlongo testified.

“Accused three (the minor) took a couple of cigarettes from the deceased. The accused then told him to not take his cigarettes, and he was attacked.”

The four assaulted him and chased him. Mzimela, who had a spanner in his hand, allegedly hit Sithole from the back, and he fell to the ground. One of the four carried a broken beer bottle.

“The deceased tried to walk for 200m, but fell to the ground again. Realising that a journalist was taking photos, the attackers walked away,” Mhlongo said.

He said the journalists picked up Sithole and took him to hospital.

Mzimela and Sibiya told their friends what they had done, the policeman told the court.

The minor and Mngomezulu were the first to be arrested, at their friend’s shack. Police discovered blood-stained weapons – an Okapi knife, a spanner and a kitchen knife, allegedly used in the attack, under a bed. A pair of jeans with bloodstains was also found. The jeans belonged to Bhengu, Mhlongo said.

Bhengu was later arrested at his place of residence at Madala hostel.

Mhlongo said his fellow detectives called him and informed him that they had arrested Mzimela. All four posed a danger to society, he said. Although Mngomezulu and Mzimela’s places of residence had been verified, they posed a danger to the witnesses. The bail hearing continues. – ANA