Royal murder: Witness killed
2003-02-23 16:01
Durban - One of the witnesses in the trial of seven men appearing in connection with the killing of Prince Mazwi Zulu on January 20, has been assassinated.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Vishnu Naidoo said Thulani Zulu, 40, was shot at his brother's house in Nkonyeni reserve near Ulundi in KwaZulu-Natal.
Zulu had apparently gone to the house to feed the dogs when he was shot three times with a firearm of 9mm calibre.
He was hit in the abdomen, chest, and mouth and died on the scene.
Zulu was the brother of Mlungisi Zulu, 26, one of the accused in the killing of Prince Mazwi Zulu, 37.
Mazwi Zulu was in a car near Ulundi with his mother, Princess "Dolly" Zulu, when they were fired on from a passing vehicle. Mazwi Zulu was hit in the head and died in hospital the next day.
Police initially suspected the shooting was an attempt to assassinate Mazwi Zulu's father, Prince Gideon Zulu, who was Kwa-Zulu-Natal's MEC for social welfare. Prince Gideon was not in the car.
Motibe believed to be robbery
The motive was later established to be robbery. Seven men were arrested and Thulani Zulu was to be one of the key witnesses in the trial.
It was not known whether the killing of Thulani Zulu was connected with the trial, said Naidoo, but the possibility could not be ruled out.
- SAPA