Handover of R120 000 happened at the Durban Central police station
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Political killings investigating officer Captain Bonginkosi Dlamini, induna's wife Sibongile Ndlovu, induna Felokwakhe Ndlovu, Captain Khephu Ndlovu and induna's son Lindokuhle Ndlovu at the Pinetown regional court. Photo by Willem Phungula
WILLEM PHUNGULA
DURBAN - ON WEDNESDAY, the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court heard how two senior police officers accepted R120 000 for one of them to tamper with the murder case of an ANC branch leader.
Uber driver Andile Hlophe testified that he drove Sibongile Ndlovu and two other people to meet Lieutenant-Colonel Khephu Ndlovu at Durban Central police station where the State alleges that Sibongile allegedly handed money to Lieutenant-Colonel and Captain Bongani Dlamini.
The two high-ranking officers face corruption and defeating the ends of justice charges together with Sibongile, her husband Felokwakhe Ndlovu and their son, Lindokuhle Ndlovu.
The State alleges that Sibongile allegedly handed money to the Lieutenant-Colonel and Captain Bongani Dlamini to fudge and weaken evidence in the murder of KwaNdengezi ANC branch leader Thulani Nxumalo where Felokwakhe Ndlovu, his son and other accused are charged.
Giving his evidence, Hlophe told the court he knew Sibongile because they were from the same township.
He said he used to transport her to and from Westville prison where she used to visit her husband who was an induna.
Hlophe said he once took Sibongile to FNB in Durban, then a few days later, he took her to Durban Central police station.
“I have made several trips to Westville prison transporting Sibongile but there were two instances where she asked to be taken to the city centre and Durban Central police station. In one instance, I took her to FNB in the city centre before we proceeded to Westville prison.
On that trip, she for the first time left her bag with me with money and other items and entered prison. A few days later she asked me to take her, together with two other people to Durban central police station.
She went out with her bag but I didn’t know what happened because I remained in my car,” said Hlophe.
The State alleges that on September 15, 2019, Khephu Ndlovu and Dlamini accepted the R120 000 from Sibongile Dlamini to negotiate with the accused, in the murder case who had turned State witness to alter his statement and therefore make the case weak.
The State’s key witness in the bribery case is the person who accompanied Sibongile when she went to see Khephu Ndlovu. The witness, who was close to Sibongile, had already testified and implicated Khephu Ndlovu and Dlamini.
Daily News