Soldier claims pupil 'throttled, cursed' him

SOUTH African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldier Mbubanzi Desmond Zwakala, who stands accused of the murder of Amogelang Assegaai, claimed that he fired a warning shot into the air after the Grade 12 Kimberley Boys' High pupil “throttled, pushed and swore” at him outside his home in Impala Road.

- SANDI KWON HOO

Zwakala and his co-accused, David Khangumbe, are standing trial on charges of murder and obstructing the course of justice.

Testifying in the Northern Cape High Court recently, Zwakala denied threatening the deceased with a firearm.

He stated that his son, Kamva Zwakala, was injured during an altercation at a matric valedictory party at Assegaai's house on October 21, 2022, where he also lost his cellphone.

Zwakala confronted Assegaai at his home on October 23, 2022, when he discovered that the SIM and memory cards were missing.

“Kamva needed to retrieve his contacts and schoolwork. Assegaai rudely said to me, ‘toppie is k*k gewoond’ (you are taking me for a ride). He never acted like a child when he throttled and cursed me.”

He added that he managed to push Assegaai away after being shoved against a wall.

“Assegaai went to stand next to Kamva. I fired a warning shot so that he would stop throttling me and move out of the way so that I could leave. I didn’t know what Assegaai was thinking. I had to pass him when I left, after he attacked me.”

He indicated that the safety latch had to be released before the bullet was fired and that he took his 9mm pistol with him that night to protect himself.

“I am not familiar with that area. There was a bullet in the chamber, as anything could happen. I never went there to fight. I only went to look for the cellphone.”