Hitman paid R10 000 to kill taxi boss
2013-03-15 14:41
Mbombela - Self-confessed hitman Kenneth Nkosi told the Mpumalanga
High Court on Friday, that a prominent taxi boss paid him R10 000 to shoot dead
taxi owner Abaneel Mokoena in the 1990s.
Nkosi said he was hired by Samuel "Vuyo"
Manganye, who was president of the Federated Local and Long Distance Taxi Association
(FELLDTA), which had offices in Pretoria.
Defence attorney Hendrik Potgieter, who represents
Manganye, Calvin Lubisi and Mfanufikile "Mamelodi" Mbonani, had asked
that Nkosi be called back for cross-examination.
Potgieter accused Nkosi of presenting conflicting
statements.
"My client, Manganye, is denying that he ever made
the payment on Mokoena's death. Lubisi and Mbonani have also denied any
involvement in this matter.
"This witness is only trying to implicate Manganye
into this case," Potgieter told the court.
Nkosi - who is currently serving a life sentence after
being convicted in 2001 for murder, robbery, and possession of a firearm and
ammunition - testified that he made the statement voluntarily, freely, and
without any pressure.
"This is only the truth and I remember well all that
I related to the police member who took my statement. It is the truth and
nobody can deny it," Nkosi told the court.
Manganye, Lubisi, and Mbonani have pleaded not guilty to
12 charges, including three counts of murder, attempted murder, robbery with
aggravating circumstances, kidnapping, illegal possession of 9mm pistols and
revolvers, illegal possession of AK-47 assault rifles and ammunition, and
pointing a firearm.
Lubisi and Mbonani managed the Successful United Taxi
Association (Suta) that was affiliated to FELLDTA and operated between
Mbombela, Hazyview, and Bushbuckridge.
The "taxi war" was between FELLDTA and the
South African Local and Long Distance Taxi Association (SALLDTA) and its
smaller affiliates.
Justice Elias Matojane postponed the case to Monday for
further cross-examination.
- SAPA
