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School principal up for murder
26/03/2007 13:02 - (SA)
Durban - A school principal and two other men briefly appeared in the Empangeni regional court on Monday in connection with execution-style murder of two Jozini-based teachers.
The three - Bhekani Gumede, 31, Thulani Qwabe, 36, and Hlokohloko Primary School principal Anton Mathenjwa, 45 - have been charged with murder, kidnapping and malicious damage to property.
They were not asked to plead and the case was remanded to April 2 for a formal bail hearing.
Gumede and Qwabe also each face a charge of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. The case, which was initially expected to be heard in the Jozini magistrate's court, was moved to Empangeni for security reasons.
Looked like they were sleeping
The bodies of Philile Mthenjane, 34, and Phindile Ntuli, 34, were found on Thursday in a dense forest in Mbazwana. The two, who were teachers at Hlokohloko Primary School, were also members of the National Teachers Union (Natu).
The Mercury newspaper last week quoted police inspector Amos Gumbi as saying that the women had been dead for about a week. Their bodies had been found "lying next to each other as if they were sleeping in their beds", he said.
Mthenjane's car was found burning in the Mduku Reserve in Kwamsame on Friday.
It was feared that the murders had been as a result of tensions between Natu and the SA Democratic Teachers Union.
However, police spokesperson Captain Jabulani Mdletshe said on Monday that it was alleged that Mathenjwa had hired Gumede and Qwabe to eliminate the two teachers because they were apparently investigating fraud at the school.
It is alleged that Mathenjwa feared losing his job.
The three were not asked to plead on Monday and were remanded in custody. They are being detained at the Qalakabusha prison near Empangeni.
A fourth person arrested was released on Friday "because there was nothing tangible" linking him to the case.
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