Witness helped foil Mkhize plan - prosecutor
28 July 2010, 00:55
The plot to assassinate KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize was foiled after police were tipped off by a person present when the plot was hatched, the Pinetown Magistrate's Court heard.
"The witness who was with you a day before your arrest will tell this court how you plotted to kill Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize," state prosecutor, Ncedile Dunywa told the court.
He was questioning Sizwe Mkhize, one of the five men accused of plotting to kill Mkhize during the bail application hearing.
Dunywa told the court that Mkhize was the mastermind in the conspiring to kill Mkhize and that he was involved in recruiting people to execute the plot.
He said the state would bring numerous witnesses and evidence to prove that the Mkhize, Themba Xaba and Jackson Chili, aged 30, Mlungisi Xulu, 24 and Sthembiso Mthembu, 26, were on their way to kill Mkhize when they were arrested.
But Mkhize told the court that he was surprised when they were arrested because they were on a mission to uncover the plot to kill the premier.
He told the court that he was a police informer earning R3 500 a month at the time of his arrest on April 22.
"Our aim was to prevent the plot in our own way. We were just talking about how to prevent it (the plot)," he said.
The five face charges of possession of illegal firearms, ammunition and conspiracy to commit murder.
Prior to his arrest, Mkhize said he had got wind of information that he was being suspected of conspiring to commit murder.
"I informed [police officer] KG Pillay about it. He then told me to keep on giving him information about it so that he would be able to stop it," Mkhize told the court.
He said he informed Pillay, who was in court, about the allegation in November last year.
Mkhize said they had attempted to foil the alleged plot because they loved the premier.
"We take him as a hero. We love him because he is a humble person," he said.
Dunywa told the court that it was blatant lie and that Mkhize was on the register of the informers.
"We also have evidence that you did not phone Superintendent Pillay reporting the conspiracy against the premier," said Dunywa.
Mkhize refused to answer questions relating to the statement he made when he was arrested.
Dunywa said Mkhize had also allegedly been involved in the conspiracy to kill the premier in 2007. Mkhize disputed that, saying that he had provided the information about the plot to the police.
"I gave the information to the police and I was put on the police protection programme," said Mkhize.
Dunywa said Mkhize should not be given bail because he was a danger to the society and to himself.
He said Mkhize had allegedly tried to kill himself when the conspiracy to kill the premier surfaced in 2007.
"He may end up not standing trial because he is danger to himself. He is also danger to society."
The application will continue on Tuesday. - Sapa
"The witness who was with you a day before your arrest will tell this court how you plotted to kill Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize," state prosecutor, Ncedile Dunywa told the court.
He was questioning Sizwe Mkhize, one of the five men accused of plotting to kill Mkhize during the bail application hearing.
Dunywa told the court that Mkhize was the mastermind in the conspiring to kill Mkhize and that he was involved in recruiting people to execute the plot.
He said the state would bring numerous witnesses and evidence to prove that the Mkhize, Themba Xaba and Jackson Chili, aged 30, Mlungisi Xulu, 24 and Sthembiso Mthembu, 26, were on their way to kill Mkhize when they were arrested.
But Mkhize told the court that he was surprised when they were arrested because they were on a mission to uncover the plot to kill the premier.
He told the court that he was a police informer earning R3 500 a month at the time of his arrest on April 22.
"Our aim was to prevent the plot in our own way. We were just talking about how to prevent it (the plot)," he said.
The five face charges of possession of illegal firearms, ammunition and conspiracy to commit murder.
Prior to his arrest, Mkhize said he had got wind of information that he was being suspected of conspiring to commit murder.
"I informed [police officer] KG Pillay about it. He then told me to keep on giving him information about it so that he would be able to stop it," Mkhize told the court.
He said he informed Pillay, who was in court, about the allegation in November last year.
Mkhize said they had attempted to foil the alleged plot because they loved the premier.
"We take him as a hero. We love him because he is a humble person," he said.
Dunywa told the court that it was blatant lie and that Mkhize was on the register of the informers.
"We also have evidence that you did not phone Superintendent Pillay reporting the conspiracy against the premier," said Dunywa.
Mkhize refused to answer questions relating to the statement he made when he was arrested.
Dunywa said Mkhize had also allegedly been involved in the conspiracy to kill the premier in 2007. Mkhize disputed that, saying that he had provided the information about the plot to the police.
"I gave the information to the police and I was put on the police protection programme," said Mkhize.
Dunywa said Mkhize should not be given bail because he was a danger to the society and to himself.
He said Mkhize had allegedly tried to kill himself when the conspiracy to kill the premier surfaced in 2007.
"He may end up not standing trial because he is danger to himself. He is also danger to society."
The application will continue on Tuesday. - Sapa
Cape Town
