A traditional healer, on bail for the alleged murder of his fiancée, was rearrested on a further charge as he stepped out of court.
|||Durban - An oThongati traditional healer, on bail for the alleged murder of his fiancée, was rearrested on a further charge as he stepped out of courtroom F at the Verulam Regional Court.
Thabani “Magic” Mafuleka allegedly shot dead his fiancée, Catherine Nokuthula Nkonyeni, 36, at her eMatsheni home in the presence of her nieces and nephews last month.
It is alleged that Mafuleka shot Nkonyeni four times - in her chest and leg - before turning the gun on himself and firing two shots.
Mafuleka was charged with murder and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. He was granted bail of R2 500.
A Norinco 9mm pistol used to kill Nkonyeni has been the subject of an investigation against police crime intelligence officer Captain Sibusiso Joseph Mbuyazi, who is based in oThongati (Tongaat).
Mbuyazi, 49, appeared at the Verulam Magistrate’s Court earlier this month on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and live ammunition and failure to lock away a firearm.
He was granted R500 bail.
Prosecutor Niven Rai on Thursday charged Mafuleka with contravening the Domestic Violence Act, after investigations revealed that Nkonyeni had a protection order against him.
Deshwynn Govindsamy, a private attorney, placed himself on record for Mafuleka, who was previously represented by a Legal Aid SA representative.
Rai told the court the matter was still under investigation and two further counts were pending. The matter was adjourned to next month.
Mafuleka, surrounded by a group of family and friends, was closely followed out of the courtroom by investigating officer Lieutenant Naven Reddy.
With the group huddled around them, Reddy and Mafuleka were engaged in a hushed conversation before Mafuleka turned around and was handcuffed.
Mafuleka was arrested for failing to disclose any previous convictions.
According to his affidavit, he claimed he had no previous convictions. Subsequently it was discovered that he did have previous convictions.
He was expected to appear in court soon for that matter.
rizwana.umar@inl.co.za
Daily News