Many questions remain about the death of a man found with his throat slit during a KwaZulu-Natal RTI fitness test, a commission of inquiry heard.
|||Pietermaritzburg - Many questions remain about the death of a man found with his throat slit during a KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Fitness Test, a commission of inquiry heard on Wednesday.
Minenhle Mazwi Mbandlwa said he did not believe suggestions that his cousin Sanele Ngcobo committed suicide.
A doctor had told him it would have been impossible for Ngcobo to inflict such a deep incision on himself, Mbandlwa told the commission in Pietermaritzburg.
Ngcobo was found with a 13cm cut across his neck during the fitness test.
Mbandlwa asked the commission to investigate affidavits, in the possession of the transport department, that someone saw his cousin break a bottle.
The commission should also look into the person who claimed to have heard people screaming that someone was cutting himself, Mbandlwa said.
“What I seek clarity on, is the person alleged to have heard screams the same person who saw him breaking the bottle?” he asked.
“If he was identified by his T-shirt, where did his T-shirt disappear to?
“If that was the situation, did anyone bother to report this to the police?”
The commission was appointed by KwaZulu-Natal premier Zweli Mkhize earlier this year to probe the deaths of eight people who took part in a four kilometre run at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg in December.
This formed part of a fitness test for Road Traffic Inspectorate job applicants.
Nomusa Khuzwayo, for the families, raised questions about the whereabouts of the sharp object used during Ngcobo's death.
Mbandlwa said he expected that this object would have been found.
“Would you agree that whoever kept the instrument would be the person who used it?” Khuzwayo asked.
Mbandlwa agreed with her.
He also asked the commission to allow people who worked at Alexander pools, near the stadium, to give evidence.
The commission said it would investigate Mbandlwa's concerns.
The inquiry continues on Thursday. - Sapa