Inquest hears of Mdluli's love rival's death

2012-09-12 16:38

Richard Mdluli (File, Beeld)

Johannesburg - The inquest into the death of sidelined crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli's love rival heard on Wednesday how a witness walked past his body, with three men looking on.

Elizabeth Mokheseng's statement was read into the record at the Boksburg Magistrate's Court and the inquest heard that she was on her way to pay for electricity when she saw three men pointing at something.

"[When I arrived at the same place] I noticed one was lying down and was shielded with plastic. The green Golf was more or less 300m away, where the three men were standing," the inquest heard.

"I proceeded to my residential place without checking who the deceased was... No one was allowed to look [at] who the deceased was."

Mokheseng said she later found out that it was her cousin's nephew, Oupa Ramogibe.

The inquest is into the death 13 years ago of Ramogibe, who married Mdluli's mistress.

The inquest will determine whether to reinstate criminal charges provisionally withdrawn in February against Mdluli, Samuel Dlomo, Colonel Nkosana Sebastian Ximba, and Lt-Col Mtunzi-Omhle Mthembeni Mtunzi.

The charges against them were intimidation, kidnapping, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit murder.

Mokheseng's statement, dated to 26 February 1999, echoed evidence given by Mary Lokaje about the green Golf being close to the dead body.

She told the inquest that four police officers - three in uniform and one without - fled the scene shortly afterwards. Two went into a tuckshop and two got into a vehicle that drove off.

Ramogibe was killed near her house. His body was found next to the wall of the house.

Dlomo is expected to testify on Wednesday afternoon.

- SAPA