KwaNdengezi school shooting: Suspects abandon bail over learner’s murder - IOL

Menzi Vilakazi, the suspect in the killing of a grade 9 learner in KwaNdengezi Intermediate School abandoned his bail application on Thursday when he appeared before the Pinetown Magistrate's Court.

Police are set to make another arrest in connection with the fatal shooting of a KwaNdengezi Intermediate School learner on the school premises last month.

On Thursday, 26-year-old Menzi Vilakazi appeared in the Pinetown Magistrate's Court in connection with the murder of Siphelele Ngubane, 19, a Grade 9 learner from Oakland, Mariannhill, near KwaNdengezi, west of Durban.

Vilakazi allegedly arrived at the school wearing the school's uniform on September 14, pretended to be a learner and then shot Ngubane.

Police have already arrested two suspects in connection with Ngubane's murder. Vilakazi faces a murder charge, while Nkosinathi Thabethe is accused of illegal possession of a firearm.

The two suspects appeared separately, but magistrate Wendolyn Robinson said they would appear together at their next court appearance on November 3.

It has emerged that the firearm allegedly used by Vilakazi did not belong to him and that its owner has not been arrested.

“The suspect borrowed the gun, shot Siphelele, and then returned it. After returning the gun, Thabethe, who is the gunowner's uncle, took it and hid it. That's why he was arrested as the gun was found with him,” said a source.

Many community members attended the court proceedings to support Ngubane's family.

Vilakazi abandoned his bail application after consulting with his lawyer. Prosecutor Nkosi Dladla asked for a postponement to allow police to complete outstanding investigations.

Vilakazi was remanded in custody, with the matter postponed to November 3.

Nkosinathi Thabethe, who is facing a charge of possession of an illegal firearm linked to the murder of a learner in KwaNdengezi.

Thabethe then appeared in court and was informed that he faced a charge of illegal possession of a firearm and that the firearm was suspected to be the one used in Ngubane's killing.

He also abandoned his bail application.

Dladla asked for the matter to be postponed to allow for further investigations, including the taking of witness statements and the completion of the post-mortem and ballistic examinations.

After the proceedings, a group of demonstrating community members carried placards reading: “We demand justice for Sphelele Ngubane.”

Ngubane's father, Sithembiso Ngcobo, said the family was relieved that the suspects had abandoned their bail applications.

“I did not want them to be let out because they would have continued where they left off. I want them to get a life sentence for killing my boy, who was my only son,” said Ngcobo.

Ngcobo said the family had heard that the firearm allegedly used to kill his son was hired out to commit murders and that the suspect had also allegedly gone to Zwelibomvu to shoot another person.

He said the family wanted police to establish the motive for his son's killing.

Ngcobo said the family had heard that the murder could have been linked to a dispute involving a girl who attended the same school and was reportedly in a relationship with Ngubane.

“We hear that the killer once found them sitting together and told them that he doesn't like what they were doing,” said Ngcobo, who said he did not want to see the girl.

“I am better off not knowing her, because they have described her to me and I don't see what would make us cross paths,” he said.

Ngcobo said a vehicle had reportedly been driving up and down near their home the day before his son's murder.

“Which means even on Sunday, they were looking for him, but didn't find him, until he went to school on Monday.”

He said the family also wanted police to investigate one of his son's friends, who allegedly kept calling Ngubane and begging him to be at school on the day he was killed.

However, the friend was reportedly not at school that day and was not answering his phone.

The Sunday Tribune's sister newspaper, Isolezwe, established that the taxi association in KwaNdengezi provides free transport to community members who need to attend the court proceedings.

The gesture is reportedly a sign of sympathy for the family, as Ngubane travelled to and from school in the association's minibus taxis.