Thulisile Mapongwana
The state is opposing the bail application of an Eastern Cape policeman arrested in connection with the murder investigations underway at the University Fort Hare.
Heavily armed police officers guarded the Dimbaza Magistrates Court on Thursday, as 31-year-old Lindokuhle Manjati took the stand, leading evidence of how he was allegedly tortured into admitting his alleged involvement in the murder of the Vice-Chancellor’s bodyguard.
Mbonele Vesele was gunned down outside the campus resident of VC Sakhele Buhlugu’s residence in Dikeni, formerly Alice, in January, in a suspected assassination attempt on the vice-chancellor.
In opposing bail, State Advocate Nceba Ntelwa said the Mthatha Detective was a disgrace to the police force, and feared he would put the safety of his witnesses in jeopardy.
The court heard that Manjati pleaded for the “life” of his pregnant wife after police arrested her upon discovering that she had deposited money into the bank account of one of the alleged hitmen.
However, according to Manjati, his attorney wife, Pelisa Nkonyeni, was simply caught up in an arrangement involving his uncle.
He testified that at the request of his uncle, who resides in Durban, he had facilitated the hiring of cars not knowing that they were to be used during the hit against the vice chancellor’s security detail.
The two cars were used by his five co-accused in the case, who were not in court on Thursday.
In opposing bail, Ntelwa highlighted that Manjati had taken two weeks' leave from work to allegedly facilitate the murder.
Despite his claims of being injured during the alleged torture, a medical report noted that he was “clinically stable” to spend time behind bars.
The bail hearing continues on Friday.
