Twist in ANC man murder

2005-04-03 10:01

Matefu Mokoena

Johannesburg - The widow of slain Free State government official Noby Ngombane made enquiries about insurance benefits 10 days before her husband was shot and killed.

City Press can reveal that the police have established that Nok wanda Ngombane approached an insurance company to inquire about the benefits that might accrue to her in the event that her husband died.

In what appears to be a major twist in the Ngombane murder, City Press has also established that Nokwanda refused to co-operate with the police shortly after her husband's murder.

She allegedly refused to talk to the police when they came to her home, insisting on talking to them only in the presence of her lawyer.

However, Nokwanda has vehemently denied these allegations, saying she never checked up on the insurance benefits or refused to co-operate with the police.

A police source maintained that Nokwanda had refused to co-operate. He said at first Nokwanda, who is fluent in seSotho, had claimed she could not speak to the police officers, who were speaking in seSotho, because she was Xhosa speaking. However when another police officer offered to speak to her in isiXhosa, she was adamant she wanted her lawyer present.

While police admitted there was no evidence against her, they said they found her conduct puzzling.

Earlier Ngombane told City Press that she knew her husband's killers. She also said she had asked the police to interview, among others, Free State Premier Beatrice Marshoff, because "she knows the enemies" of her slain husband.

Shed some light on Ngombane's enemies

In an interview with City Press this week Nokwanda said she also gave the police the name of a national minister, who cannot be named, and who could shed some light on Ngombane's enemies.

Ngombane, 38, was gunned down 12 days ago by assailants who pulled into his driveway in Bloemfontein's suburb of Hillsboro. He was shot when he went to investigate.

Nokwanda, a former personal assistant to Marshoff, explained that she asked the police to interview the Free State premier because "she knows exactly, who were Noby's enemies".

She has also given police several other names but refused to mention them to City Press. " Nobody will come and shoot me," she said.

Free State police spokesperson Superintendent Annelie Wrensch confirmed the police had visited Nokwanda.

Wrensch, however, said the police would not reveal the names given to them by Nokwanda because this would hamper the investigation.

Wrensch would also not confirm whether Nokwanda had asked the police to interview Marshoff, and said the police were at an advanced stage in the investigation and any leads that came up would be followed up.

Police are offering a reward of up to R100 000 to any person who can supply information that will lead to the arrest and prosecution of the person(s) who murdered Ngombane.

- City Press