An East London woman accused of hiring hitmen to kill her ex-husband and his girlfriend has been denied bail in the Mdanstane Magistrate's Court.
The state claims that 45-year-old Lebohang Mbola allegedly hired the men to kill her 49-year-old husband, Themba Mbola at his home in Unit 14 last December.
According to a state witness, who was a tenant at Mbola's home, Lebohang Mbola arrived at the house accompanied by the men, one of whom was carrying a container with petrol.
The witness said in earlier testimony that the accused and the men allegedly opened fire, killing Themba Mbola, then dousing his girlfriend and the house with petrol and setting them alight.
In court on Thursday, Mbola said she was married to the deceased for three years before their divorce and testified that their relationship was toxic thereafter.
She said they had three children with the deceased and that she had gone to the house to kill her husband and commit suicide afterwards, as she was not coping with how her life had turned out.
Mbola said that she did not know the men who are on trial with her, stating that they may have gone to her ex-husband's house to rob him.
The magistrate, Nolundi Mnkwali, said because Mbola does not have a fixed address and had denied knowing her co-accused, she could be a flight risk.
The case against Mbola, who is facing two charges of murder and one of arson, was postponed to 16 May for further investigation.
