Premier cool on hit claim

2005-03-29 11:37

Bloemfontein - Free State premier Beatrice Marshoff distanced herself on Tuesday from allegations that the murder of provincial official Noby Ngombane was politically motivated.

Nokwanda Ngombane, speaking at her husband's funeral on Monday, said the murder was political and that her husband's enemies were present at the service, held in Bloemfontein.

Marshoff said in an interview with the SABC's local radio station Lesedi FM on Tuesday that Ngombane's views were her own.

Ngombane said: "Let us not beat around the bush when it is said that this murder is a mystery whose motives are unclear. We are talking about a political killing.

"One thing I know, his enemies and some of whom are present here today, know very well too, that Noby was absolutely honest."

Speaking before Nokwanda Ngombane, Marshoff asked on Monday for more space for authorities to investigate Ngombane's death and said it was insensitive to speculate about what had happened.

Ngombane was shot dead at his home in Bloemfontein last week.

He was the head of the Free State government's monitoring and policy evaluation unit in Marshoff's office.

Nokwanda Ngombane is one of Marshoff's personal assistants.

- SAPA