MURDER accused, Velly Thwala has claimed that Nontobeko Msithini's ex-lover killed her to spite him.
He told the Mbombela High Court on Monday, 4 March when he took the stand to give his version of events that he intends to call in a witness, Derrick De Beer, who will testify that he is not the one who killed Nontobeko.
He claimed that on the day of his arrest, he was doing his garden when certain people emerged in a Quantum. He said the people took him into the Quantum saying they wanted to show him something.
"Some of the occupants were known to me while some were not. My Lord, I thought there was a job they wanted me to do as I am an artist. We travelled and reached a certain place, there were a lot of people and next to them was a trolley with a bag," he said
Thwala said the occupants of the taxi told him to get off and showed him the bag, which was already opened.
"One of the people who were there said to me there is a bag and a person with a tattoo in the bag and that tattoo bears my name. The tattoo was familiar," he said.
Earlier on, Colonel Thamsanqa Mkhaliphi testified that Thwala voluntarily made his confession statement. He said Thwala indicated that the deceased left him alone in the house and went with her ex-lover.
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The statement read: "I was with my girlfriend Nosipho (Nontobeko) and friend, Innocent. I was busy fixing shoes and in came Jafta who came to check how far I was with fixing his shoes. He was in possession of medication and he told me they can be used as drugs.
“He asked if I was interested and I said he can give me one. Nosipho also said she was interested and I don't know how many she was given. I don't know what they got to, I woke up around 10pm and they were nowhere to be found. I woke up as a result of a knock at the door. It was Mpangane and he asked me why I was sleeping while my girlfriend is with Jafta."
In the statement, Thwala indicated that the deceased was drunk when he found her. "I also asked Jafta why he took my girlfriend while he knows that Nosipho is my girlfriend, Nosipho was drunk at that time. It was not the first time Nosipho has left me sleeping. On our way home, I started assaulting her, she fell down and I continued to assault her on the head and body.
"I was hurt that she is going out with Jafta and I would be left in the house alone. I didn't count as how many times I assaulted her. She told me she can’t move and I placed her body on my back. When we got home I asked her if she realises that what she is doing is causing conflict," read the statement.
Thwala is facing a murder charge and pleaded not guilty to the charge. The 39-year-old is conducting his own defence.
He allegedly assaulted his 19-year-old lover to death in February 2023 in Barberton. Nontobeko's body was found stuffed in a bag, which Thwala had claimed was carrying the carcass of his troublesome pitbull.
The matter was postponed to Thursday, 7 March for Thwala to bring in his witness.
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