'Khekhe said wife was cheating with Bozwana,' says accused

Vusi "Khekhe" Mathibela allegedly wanted North West businessman Wandile Bozwana dead because he was having an affair with his wife.

In a confession statement admitted as evidence in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria yesterday, Bonginkosi Paul Khumalo said Mathibela masterminded Bozwana's murder for allegedly "cheating with his [Mathibela's] wife".

Khumalo said he and three others were paid R60,000 for the murder and that he was paid an additional R5,000 for arranging the hitmen.

This is the third confession statement to be admitted as evidence in the matter.

Sipho Patrick Hudla previously told the court they were paid R60,000 for Bozwana's murder. Matamela Robert Mutapa also confessed that Mathibela masterminded Bozwana's murder and claimed Mathibela wanted Bozwana dead because he was standing in his way of getting tenders.

Hudla, Mutapa, Mathibela and Khumalo are accused of Bozwana's murder and the attempted murder of his business partner Mpho Baloyi.

In his statement read into the record by Capt Angel Mthethwa, Khumalo said he received a call from Mathibela who asked him to bring two hitmen and meet him at Sandton City.

"... [He said] he wants them to kill someone who is cheating with his wife," he said.

"I immediately arranged Sipho and Senzo Majola and we met at the mall. I gave Vusi their numbers so they can call each other."

Khumalo said they met Mathibela and following discussions, agreed on carrying out the hit.

"Vusi told me that the person was around the mall and he had given the guys instructions to follow him as he had identified him to them. Further he told me that the person to be killed was behind him and was wearing a blue T-shirt.

"I called Sipho who was posted to monitor the guy. I asked him if they were willing to kill and he said yes."

He said they then went to the basement where another person arrived in a silver BMW.

"Vusi told me that there were tools [guns] in the BMW."

Khumalo alleged that Mathibela entered a navy van and drove to the gate where he waited for Bozwana to exit the mall.

"Vusi saw the car and he called the other guys . and gave them a description. He said it's a yellow car with red writings on it, he said it had a female driver and the guy [Bozwana] was sitting in the back," he said.

Khumalo said they followed the vehicle Bozwana was in until it reached a red robot.

"At the red robot, Sipho got out and shot at the guy in the back, Senzo got out but I didn't see if he shot at the yellow car. The yellow car sped off."

He said he and two others drove to Mathibela's bar in Sunnyside, Pretoria, where they drank a few beers before he was driven back to Alexandra. "In Alexandra I met with Senzo, Mutapa, and Sipho. We met with Vusi later on and he had a plastic bag from a clothing shop.

"He opened it and there was money wrapped in bundles. It was R60,000 and we shared it, each of us got R15,000. He said that's our salary and he heard the guy was dead. He heard it through a reliable source."

Khumalo said Mutapa paid him a visit two weeks after the murder with R40,000.

"He said he got it from Vusi. He gave me R5,000 because I didn't shoot the guy but only arranged shooters."

Khumalo said he heard on the news while watching TV that Bozwana was a politician and a businessman.

"I called Vusi and asked him why he lied. Vusi said it was true, that he was cheating with his wife and then he changed his number," he said.

The trial continues today.