Sihle Mtshare was allegedly taken in for questioning on 21 August 21, 2022, and he disappeared thereafter, his body was found in Camperdown. Sergeant Ayanda Doctor Ntombela charged with Mtshare’s murder appeared in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Anelisa Kubheka
WHILE the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court is yet to make a decision on bail for a Mariannhill sergeant accused in connection with kidnapping and murder, in a separate matter a KwaDabeka constable who was denied bail is expected back in court on Tuesday.
Lungisani Xaba, who is charged with the alleged murder of his 70-year-old mother, Greta Xaba, allegedly assaulted his mother with a plank with nails in it on May 6 two days before Mother’s Day in KwaDabeka, just outside Pinetown.
He was arrested on May 7 in KwaDabeka for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. However, the charge was changed to murder on May 8 after his mother died.
He remains behind bars after having been refused bail previously by the magistrate Robinson.
Xaba, prior to his arrest, had been working at his station since 2010.
A day after Xaba’s appearance, the court will continue to hear the bail application of Sergeant Ayanda Doctor Ntombela who allegedly took in Sihle Mtshare for questioning on August 21 this year. Mtshare disappeared. Thereafter, his body was found in Camperdown.
Ntombela’s bail proceedings began last week and were adjourned to Wednesday.
In court last week it emerged that Ntombela pointed out where Mtshare’s body had been dumped. He returned his phone to his family.
This was revealed by Independent Police Investigative Directorate officer Madoda Zulu, who had been leading evidence. He said their investigation was incomplete and more arrests were imminent.
Zulu said he believed that Ntombela did not act alone when he committed the alleged offence he is charged with.
His evidence was that on August 21 Ntombela took Mtshare from his KwaSanti home, taking him into custody at the Mariannhill police station without charging him.
“In the early hours of the following day at 3am, the accused took the deceased to the holding cells at KwaNdengezi. At first, the accused denied knowing the deceased or involvement in his disappearance, even though he had been identified by a witness. Instead, he promised to assist in the investigation so that the deceased is found.”
It’s alleged that on September 7, 17 days after Mtshare’s disappearance, Ntombela returned his phone to his family after being requested to do so by the investigators.
It’s further alleged that the following day Ntombela had confided in a person, expected to testify in the matter, that he had received a telephone call tipping him off about the location of Mtshare’s body in Camperdown.
Zulu told the court that Ntombela took them to the location where a body was found by a police dog.
He went on to describe Ntombela as someone who would evade trial and interfere with evidence and the proper functioning of the law if he was granted bail.
Ntombela’s lawyer, advocate M Mkhize, said his client’s actions in returning Mtshare’s cell phone to his family and assisting with information on the location of the body showed he was co-operating with police.
