Damning evidence of how a slain Gqeberha doctor's ex-wife allegedly masterminded his murder emerged in the New Brighton Magistrates Court on Friday.
Ethel Noqekwa and two others are accused of the murder of her ex-husband, Dr Bantu Noqekwa at his surgery in Zwide, in May.
During her bail application, Sergeant Sibulelo Yali testified that Ethel had allegedly promised hitmen that they would be compensated with half a million rand once the job was done.
She is said to have arranged the murder since 2021 via a middleman, who has since turned state witness.
The court heard that her son was let in on the murder plot as he was the executor of the deceased's estate, which meant he would have to release the hitmen's compensation.
The couple's firstborn was in agreement with his mother.
Yali said on the day of the murder, Noqekwa was still in his surgery at around 7pm.
Patients were seated in the waiting room when the killers arrived.
Three men allegedly went straight to the consultation room, while two others stood guard at the door.
Patients were informed not to worry, as the alleged killers were "there for the doctor."
"One of the three men instructed him to lie on his stomach on the examination bed. He was shot once in his head.
"Judging by the blood splatter on the bed and all over the wall, he was shot at close range, Yali testified.
While Noqekwa was being murdered, Ethel was at the Boardwalk Casino. She called her son to inform him once the middleman confirmed that the job had been done.
When the hitmen demanded their money, Ethel informed them that the money was still tied up with her late husband's estate.
This led to her receiving numerous threats.
Yali said Ethel is considered a flight risk and might evade her trial, seeing that she fled to Cape Town before her arrest.
She has allegedly also made a confession.
Ethel and her two co-accused are in custody, while two other suspects are still on the run.
The case was remanded to 6 July.
