THE four men found guilty of killing North West businessman, Wandile Bozwana, in 2015, were in court for pre-sentencing on Thursday, 8 December.
The North Gauteng High Court in Tshwane heard that Mamelodi businessman Vusi “Khekhe” Mathibela and his co-accused, Sipho Hudla, Matamela Mutapa and Bonginkosi Khumalo, were struggling mentally and physically behind bars.
This was according to a clinical psychologist, who did an assessment of the men this year. The four were convicted in June of murdering Bozwana and attempting to murder his business partner, Mpho Baloyi. Bozwana was gunned down in a vehicle driven by Baloyi when it stopped at a red light at the Garsfontein off-ramp off the N1.
The psychologist, who did not want to be named, told Prosecutor Jennifer Cronje that Mathibela presented symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder.
She said he also displayed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and a personality disorder.
“Mr Mathibela was suffering from childhood trauma. Mr Mathibela is struggling to cope with solitary confinement and a decline in mental health is noted in the schizoid presentation,” she said.
In her report, she said: “He said he refuses to eat if he doesn’t dish up for himself. He has a fear in his head about being poisoned. He doesn’t trust the system he is in and believes he is targeted. He feels that he is well known and that could be the reason he could be targeted.”
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The psychologist said Mathibela could be charming. “He can be emotionally manipulative. He went to school until grade 8 and that could have had a significant effect on his low average range of functioning.”
The case was postponed to Friday.
