Former crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli
allegedly went to extreme lengths between 1997 and 1999 to find out where his
former lover Tshidi Buthelezi and her husband where hiding.
Mdluli and his co-accused Mthembeni Mtunzi-Omhle
Mthunzi, 54, allegedly forced Buthelezi’s friend Alice Manana out of her
Boksburg home and took her to the Vosloorus police station where she was
slapped and punched for information about Buthelezi’s whereabouts.
Mthunzi and Mdluli worked together at the police
station between 1997 and 1999, where Mdluli was the station commander.
Mdluli had had a long-term relationship with
Buthelezi since school days and he claimed she was his wife. He bought a
property in Dawn Park and lived there with her. Mdluli and Buthelezi had a
child together.
During her relationship with Mdluli, Buthelezi met
Oupa Ramogibe and they began a relationship, and later [July 22, 1998] married.
Buthelezi did not inform Mdluli of this
development, and he found out about the wedding and obtained a copy of the
marriage certificate.
According to the document, 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 said.
The two accused then 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.
The accused took Manana to the Vosloorus police
station where she was allegedly assaulted.
She was told to speak the truth or she would be
killed.
They then took her to Orange Farm, and found
Buthelezi and Oupa Ramogibe.
The couple were forcefully removed from the
property and taken to the police station, where they were assaulted together.
Ramogibe was shot dead on February 17 1999.
The following day the Ramogibe family reported the
incident which led to Ramogibe’s death to the police. Ramogibe allegedly
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 accused two 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.
Earlier today, Mdluli was formally charged in
court, and his case was postponed to October 7.
He faces charges including kidnapping, assault with
intent to do grievous bodily harm, intimidation, and defeating the ends of
justice.
