Trial reveals web of bribery, poison plots and hitmen

DA COUNCILLOR MURDER CASE

- SABELO NSELE

PROMINENT Zuma family names have surfaced at the Howick Magistrate’s Court, where Inkosi Simphiwe Eric Zuma is appearing for the murder of DA councillor in uMngeni Local Municipality, Nhlalayenza Ndlovu.

Those mentioned include businessman Khulubuse Zuma and Thobani Zuma, an uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) Member of the Provincial Legislature in Pietermaritzburg.

Thobani is alleged to have been part of a R200000 bribery attempt on a magistrate who presided over Inkosi Zuma’s earlier murder case in the eMpendle Magistrate's Court.

Khulubuse is accused of conspiring with Inkosi Zuma to poison a witness in a separate murder trial. Inkosi Zuma is also alleged to be in contact with a hitman jailed for the murder of ANC councillor Phendukani Mabhida in Mandeni Municipality.

These explosive claims were presented when the State opposed Inkosi Zuma's bail application for Ndlovu’s murder. As they were read, Inkosi shook his head in denial.