Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
26 August 2024
Themba Prince Shongwe reappeared before the Secunda Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 20, and Thursday, 22 August 2024.
Shongwe is on trial for the alleged murder and rape of young girls in eMbalenhle, Ext. 16 and 17, between the years 2016 and 2018.
On the witness stand during cross examination, Shongwe maintained his arrest was a target by the investigation officer.
State prosecutor Tracy Keen-Horak questioned why Themba felt he was targeted by the investigation officer.
Themba answered that the investigation officer told him that he would arrest him; thereafter, he was taken buccal swabs after the community told the police to search his house.
The state prosecutor put it to the accused, that during the police investigations, about 44 males residing in the area were also taken buccal swabs, and his swabs came out positive, leading to his arrest, not that he was targeted.
Themba maintained he was targeted even after it was put to him that the investigation officer Malapela was not the one who arrested him initially, which shows his arrest was not targeting him but rather to save him from the angry community members.
Themba replied that he had proof in the form of an article written by a local newspaper alleging that the evidence was tempered with.
State prosecutor put it to him that the said article cannot be taken as facts in court since it is the opinion of the writer.Further, Themba testified on the events that took place on the 7th of November 2019 when Mihle Zingamo was discovered deceased not far from Themba’s yard.
He said that in the morning of the said day he wanted to help his friend move furniture and also buy firewood; therefore, he went to a neighbor’s house to borrow a wheelbarrow at about 9h00 to 10h00 in the morning.In a statement made by the mother, the state prosecutor put it to Themba that his mother made a statement saying she had sent Themba on the particular day at about 13h00 in the afternoon to borrow a wheelbarrow.
Defense lawyer Mr. Zwane objected to the statement, saying the mother’s statement has not yet been submitted as evidence before court.
Themba also denied knowing Mihle Zingamo. State prosecutor Tracy Kaan put it to him that three witnesses from Zingamo family testified before court that Mihle knew Themba as he used to send her to call Xolani for him.
Keen-Horak also put it to Themba that the defense never objected to all three witnesses when they testified.
When examined about the time Mihle was discovered, Themba said he was woken up by his mother, and when he went outside, electricity came back within that second, while the state prosecutor showed Themba an exhibit of pictures taken at the scene with the time they were taken.
State prosecutor Keen-Horak further put it to Themba that the time Mihle was discovered there was no electricity; therefore, in the pictures, a police vehicle’s headlights were on and surroundings were dark, which she argued was impossible because when Themba woke, electricity was back.
The trial has been postponed to Tuesday, 03 September 2024, Themba’s mother is yet to testify before court on behalf of his son.
