Delays in Mdluli case frustration - NPA
Johannesburg - The NPA on Tuesday expressed
frustration with delays in the case against former police crime intelligence
boss Richard Mdluli.
"This is frustrating for the victims and
the public," said Gauteng National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi
Louw.
She was speaking outside the South Gauteng
High Court in Johannesburg, sitting in Palm Ridge, following Mdluli's brief
appearance.
The case was postponed to allow the defence
to be provided with documents.
Louw said the NPA was mandated to deal with
every case expeditiously, but this delay was "out of their control".
Mdluli faces a string of charges related to
the fatal shooting of Oupa Ramogibe, his former lover's husband.
These include kidnapping, assault with intent
to do grievous bodily harm, intimidation, and defeating the ends of justice.
According to the charge sheet, Mdluli
allegedly went to extreme lengths between 1997 and 1999 to find his former
lover Tshidi Buthelezi and her husband.
Mdluli and his co-accused, Mthembeni
Mtunzi-Omhle Mthunzi, 54, allegedly forced Buthelezi's friend Alice Manana out
of her Boksburg, East Rand, home and took her to the Vosloorus police station.
There she was allegedly assaulted to have her reveal Buthelezi's whereabouts.
Mthunzi and Mdluli worked together at the
police station between 1997 and 1999. Mdluli was the station's branch
commander.
Mdluli had had a long-term relationship with
Buthelezi since their school days and he claimed she was his wife. He bought a
property in Dawn Park and lived there with her. They had a child together.
During her relationship with Mdluli,
Buthelezi met Ramogibe and they began a relationship, and married in July 1998.
Buthelezi did not inform Mdluli of this
development. He found out about the wedding and obtained a copy of the marriage
certificate.
Relationships
According to the charge sheet, Ramogibe was
in another relationship with Lerato Seballo at the same time as Buthelezi.
"Accused two [Mdluli] visited the homes
of Seballo, Sophia Ramogibe, and Jostinah Ramogibe in an attempt to convince
them by means of intimidation to put pressure on Tshidi Buthelezi and Oupa to
end their relationship," the charge sheet reads.
"Buthelezi and Oupa went into hiding
after they got married and it came to their knowledge that Mdluli was looking
for them. At one stage, they hid in Orange Farm."
The two accused visited Manana at her
Boksburg home in 1998, allegedly took her against her will, and instructed her
to show them where Buthelezi and Oupa were hiding.
She was allegedly told to speak the truth or
she would be killed. After the assault at the police station, they took her to
Orange Farm, and found Buthelezi and Oupa Ramogibe.
The couple were taken to the police station
and allegedly assaulted.
Ramogibe was shot dead on 17 February 1999.
The following day the Ramogibe family
reported the matter to police.
They claimed Ramogibe received death threats
after marrying Buthelezi and was told to leave her or he would be killed. He
had opened an attempted murder case before his death.
"It will be alleged that [Mdluli]
secreted the police dockets concerning the attempted murder of Alice Manana and
the kidnapping of Oupa, in the safe in his office at the Vosloorus police
station, to ensure that no further criminal investigations and/or criminal
prosecutions would be instituted against him," according to the charge
sheet.
The case resumes on 5 December.
