DINE, the police officer who attended the scene of the incident, explained the defendant’s statement in the case of the murder of Ms. Ayabonga Mjilo at the Durban High Court.
This happened when lawyer Mrs. Judy Reddy was about to question Sergeant Sfiso Ngcobo, who works under the Trio Task Team at the Greenwood Park police station, where the case of the disappearance of the deceased after Christmas 2024 was opened.
The accused Mr. Mfanafuthi Kunene, who is said to have been the manager of the deceased in the past at the call center in Mhlanga. The deceased was seen with the defendant leaving a pub, Capello, in Mhlanga.
Mrs. Reddy had just told Ngcobo that according to her client, Ms. Mjilo was not killed by her but she saw her foaming at the mouth, then checked to see if she was still breathing, and found that she was still.
Mrs Reddy went on to say that this is when Kunene wrapped her in a sheet and hid her in the pit toilet behind her house in Maoti, Nanda.
After saying this statement, Mrs. Reddy asked Ngcobo if there was anything he wanted to comment on.
Ngcobo responded by saying: “I find the defendant’s explanation offensive. It leaves me with a lot of questions.”
He went on to say that he agrees with his explanation from the time they left Capello, until they arrived in Maoti.
“The explanation where he talked about (the deceased’s) cell phone is not true. The deceased’s cell phone turned off after he (the deceased) called a close relative, asking for help, after that it was turned off and was not turned on again. Until today, it is not known where it is,” said Ngcobo.
Ngcobo also released another bombshell, asking if the defendant saw the deceased foaming at the mouth why did he not rush and report to the emergency services.
“What annoys me is why he didn’t call the ambulance or the police when he saw the deceased foaming at the mouth,” said Ngcobo.
Mrs Reddy replied that she had revealed that the defendant was scared.
“Of course he was scared after what he had done,” replied Ngcobo sarcastically. He added that they were surprised that he even told the truth after days, something he should have done beyond just settling the foundations just happened.
The case continues today.