- The trial of a man who allegedly killed a Vosloorus man during lockdown in March 2020 is under way.
- The man was allegedly shot dead with an Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department firearm.
- His alleged killer has pleaded guilty to culpable homicide and not murder.
A witness has told the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg she will "never forgive" the man who killed her nephew during lockdown in March 2020.
"I was going to forgive him but what he is telling the court is infuriating," Bongiwe Amos told the court on Tuesday morning.
Amos was testifying in the trial of Siphiwe Ndlovu, who was allegedly involved in the shooting of her nephew, Sibusiso Amos.
Sibusiso was shot dead at his Vosloorus home during lockdown in March 2020.
Ndlovu allegedly killed 40-year-old Sibusiso with an Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) firearm.
Sibusiso, who was unarmed at the time, was allegedly shot at on the veranda of his home.
The incident happened on 29 March 2020 while law enforcement officers – including members of the EMPD – were conducting lockdown enforcement operations.
Ndlovu, 45, and Constable Hezekiah Matyobeni were arrested on a murder charge shortly after the incident, News24 reported earlier.
In his plea explanation, Ndlovu claimed he shot the accused because he was dragging a Mr Maphumulo towards the house.
He said Sibusiso was assisted "by an elderly lady who succeeded in dragging [Sibusiso] into what seemed like a veranda area and closed the [burglar door] on the veranda".
"As the deceased was behind the [burglar door], he pushed his arm through the [burglar door] and grabbed Mr Maphumulo. It seemed like he was relentless to relinquish his grip on Mr Maphumulo. I was approximately three metres away from where Mr Maphumulo and the deceased were when I fired the last three shots. Pursuant to the last two shots being fired, the deceased eventually let go of Mr Maphumulo."
But on Tuesday, Sibusiso's aunt disputed this. "He is lying, he is lying," she told the court.
She said it was not true that her nephew dragged an officer while he was on the veranda. She said:
She also said she still didn't know why her nephew was killed.
"I was still going to ask the accused what the deceased did wrong to him," she said.
She also told the court Sibusiso's killing affected her.
"I am now suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure, of which I didn't have prior. I was going to get closure and forgive him, knowing that the court would do its job, but what he is saying before the court is infuriating. I will never forgive him," she said.
Last Wednesday, Ndlovu pleaded guilty to culpable homicide and not murder.
"I deny that I committed murder. I emphasise that my plea of guilt on culpable homicide is advanced free and voluntarily, without having been unduly influenced by any person whatsoever to do so," Ndlovu said in his plea statement.
Ndlovu admitted that he "unlawfully and negligently caused the death of Sibusiso Amos".
"I deny that I intentionally caused the death of Sibusiso Amos."