Details emerge in Inkosi Zuma's alleged involvement in cousin's killing
Image: Supplied
Inkosi Simphiwe Zuma allegedly paid R30,000 as a reward to hitmen for the killing of his cousin Qalokunye Zuma, who was his chief induna, and if convicted on the matter, he will possibly be sentenced to life, said the National Prosecuting Authority.
This was revealed by an affidavit compiled by investigating officer Detective Sergeant Innocent Chamane at the Impendle Magistrate Court on Wednesday afternoon.
Inkosi Zuma has been in prison since his arrest on July 13 pending a bail hearing.
After the state presented its statement in opposing the bail application, the court postponed the matter to Monday for cross-examination.
Unlike in Inkosi Zuma's previous appearance on July 20, former president Jacob Zuma, who is his blood relative, did not arrive to support him.
However, senior ANC leaders in KwaZulu-Natal, Super Zuma and Mthandeni Dlungwana, and Umkhonto Wesizwe Party activist Thobani Zuma, were there.
He, his co-accused Zwelethu Buthelezi, who is his induna in Howick, and two alleged hitmen, Thabo 'Gambushe' Chonco, Thembelani Mbatha, are facing charges related to the murder of Induna Qalokunye Zuma, who was killed by a hail of bullets while at his home in Novuka village on January 14, 2023.
'Shortly after the shooting, the applicant (Inkosi Zuma) transferred an amount of R30,000 to Buthelezi, who paid the said money to Gambushe when they met at a fuel filling station in Pietermaritzburg,' said Chamane.
Chonco and Mbatha, who were the first to be arrested, are already appearing at the Regional Court in Pietermaritzburg and were denied bail.
Buthelezi, who is also facing charges in relation to the murder of the Democratic Alliance councillor and chief whip at uMngeni Municipality, Nhlalayenza Ndlovu, withdrew his bail application.
In the statement, which National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)'s Advocate Zwelethu Mata read to the court, Chamane said he had evidence that directly linked the accused to the crime.
The evidence is contained in cell phone recordings, bank statements, and ballistic evidence, among others.
Chamane said the motive for the murder was related to a land dispute.
He said that after one of Inkosi Zuma's indunas, Khumalo, had died, a certain Mnikathi informed Inkosi that there was a piece of land that was allocated to him by Khumalo.
However, Inkosi refused to hand over the land to Mnikathi.
This led to an argument between Inkosi and Mnikathi.
Mnikathi then approached Qalokunye to intervene, but Inkosi Zuma also engaged in an argument with Qalokunye.
It emerged that Inkosi Zuma was informed of a conspiracy by Qalokunye and Mnikathi to kill him.
'It should be noted that part of how the applicant was earning a living was to sell pieces of land under the tribal authority.
'The piece of land under dispute was also earmarked to be sold,' read the affidavit.
In retaliation for the alleged conspiracy to kill him, Inkosi Zuma and Buthelezi arranged the killing of Qalokunye and Mnikathi using the services of Mbatha and Chonco.
'They armed themselves and went to the deceased's home where they shot and killed him at his place while he was on his bed playing a musical instrument,' said Chamane.
The hit men were identified by eyewitnesses during the identity parade after they were arrested.
'After the arrest, we received several voice records in Buthelezi's cell phone between Buthelezi and the applicant (Inkosi Zuma).
'Part of the discussion was Buthelezi reporting back to the applicant about how the deceased was shot and killed, and precisely how the deceased's house was approached and the shooting happened," the state said.
Chamane said Inkosi Zuma knew the hitmen.
However, during his bail application, Inkosi Zuma disputed the authenticity of the voice on the recording.
'His voice will be proved at trial,' said Chamane.
In trying to convince the court to deny bail, Chonco described Inkosi Zuma as a person who would do anything to escape justice.
He said that after Buthelezi had skipped bail in a separate matter and was also running away from police after Ndlovu's murder, Inkosi would deposit money to him to fund his escape.
He said Inkosi had also paid money to the accused in prison, apparently in trying to bribe them not to implicate him in the Qalokunye murder.
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