adminThandeka Moyo Court Reporter
A COUNCILLOR in Inyathi teamed up with her workers and fatally assaulted a man who stole six mealie-cobs from her plot, a Bulawayo magistrate heard yesterday.Irene Khuphe, 59, the councillor for Ward 23, allegedly gave the now deceased Mpumelelo Ndlovu the last kick before he was rushed to Inyathi District Hospital where he later died.
Khuphe appeared together with her co-accused, Themba Mpofu and Mbekezeli Mpofu, before provincial magistrate Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze facing murder charges.
She was granted $300 bail while her alleged accomplices were remanded in custody to February 20.
The State led by Nkathazo Dlodlo alleges that on January 26, Ndlovu was caught stealing mealie cobs at Khuphe’s Diglis Farm.
He was then assaulted with a belt and a stick by Themba and Mbekezeli while Khuphe kicked him once in the face.
Ndlovu was taken to Inyathi District Hospital where he died on February 6.
Khuphe’s lawyer Jonathan Tsvangirai of Dube-Tachiona and Tsvangirai Legal Practitioners, asked the court to grant his client bail as she was diabetic, hypertensive and too old to bear prison conditions.
“Your Worship my client will not abscond trial as she is of fixed abode. She resides at Plot number 3 Diglis. We believe the circumstances of the murder do not link her to the offence and she is ready to stand trial,” he said.
Tsvangirai told the court that when Ndlovu was caught stealing from Khupe’s plot, he was taken to the village head who referred him back to Khuphe.
“When Ndlovu reached Khuphe’s homestead, his mother was called and she in turn begged Khuphe not to report her son to the police. My client didn’t participate in the assault or encourage the co-accused persons to assault Ndlovu,” he said.
Tsvangirai said the two men, who were not represented, had only implicated Khuphe when the matter was set down.
“She has no travel documents or contacts outside the country as well. Therefore the evidence against her is very weak and there is no reason why she should escape,” he said.
The State was opposed to bail and the investigating officer, Sergeant Margret Mpofu, said Khuphe was likely to interfere with witnesses.
“In conducting my investigations, I discovered that Clr Khuphe was in some way involved in Ndlovu’s death. He was assaulted after being found stealing mealie cobs and afterwards Khuphe kicked him once in his face. He was taken to Inyathi District Hospital where he died a few days later,” said Sgt Mpofu.
She said Khuphe was likely to interfere with witnesses and was a threat to the effective investigations on Ndlovu’s death.
In passing her ruling on the application for bail, Magistrate Msipa–Marondedze said the State had failed to advance strong arguments for denial of bail.
“You’re therefore granted $300 bail and you will report to Inyathi Police every Monday and every Thursday and come to court till this matter is finalised.”
Online Reporter