A Limpopo woman who allegedly orchestrated the murder of her prominent lawyer husband is said to have put on a tearful Oscar-winning act after the 46-year-old was gunned down outside their home.
Dorah Zwidofhelangani Manwadu, 42, made her first appearance in the Thohoyandou magistrate's court on Wednesday.
She was arrested after investigators found a paper trail, including bank statements which reflected payments amounting to R100,000 made by her to accounts of the hitmen who have also been linked to the killing of a mayor in the province, an insider close to the investigation said on Wednesday.
Collins Chabane mayor Moses Maluleke, 56, was gunned down in his home in Xikundu village on July 21. He was with his 18-year-old son who escaped with injuries.
The source said phone records showed that Manwadu had been in constant contact with the hitmen moments before the shooting on January 16 2022.
Manwadu was arrested at the Tshisimani campus of the Vhembe TVET College where she is employed as a clerk.
Her arrest happened just a day after the first anniversary of her husband’s death.
Manwadu was charged with murder for allegedly ordering a hit on her husband, 46-year-old James Manwadu, who was an attorney attached to the Legal Aid SA branch in Thohoyandou.
He was shot and killed outside their home in Maniini Block K.
Manwadu is the fourth accused in the case along with Tshianeo Munyai, Pfunzo Lidzebe and Ndalamo Nemakhavhani.
Limpopo NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said the case was postponed to February for Munyai, Lidzebe and Nemakhavhani to apply for bail and for Manwadu to get a legal representative.
Sowetan understands that Manwadu was also implicated in her husband’s murder by her co-accused.
“It is alleged that on 16 January 2022, [James] Manwadu arrived home, and while getting out of his motor vehicle to open the gate, he was approached by the accused persons, who shot and killed him.”
Malabi-Dzhangi said Lidzebe and Munyai were also linked to Maluleke's murder.
Thomas Madzaga, head of the Legal Aid SA office in Thohoyandou who had worked with James Manwadu and is also a family friend, was among the first people to arrive on the scene.
Madzaga, who expressed shock over Manwadu's arrest, recalled how she appeared devastated on the day her husband was killed.
“I’m very disappointed because upon hearing that Mr Manwadu has been shot I rushed to the scene. I was among the people who were consoling the widow who is now a suspect. We were with the widow all along trying to help where we can, not knowing that she is a wolf in a sheep’s skin,” he said.
“She appeared like a person who was really touched by Mr Manwadu’s passing because she was also crying with the kids. If she was really faking it, then she’s a very good actor,” Madzaga said.
He said he never thought Manwadu was capable of murder, adding that she seemed to be a polite person.
James Manwadu’s niece Faranani Mutswari said the family was just as shocked to discover that her uncle’s window was the prime suspect.
She said the couple had been married for more than 10 years. Their children are aged between 11 and 21.
Mutswari said they had known for some time that police were closing in on another suspect but had no idea who it was.
“This is the last thing we could have expected. But as a family we are relieved because we were very confused but now there is light,” Mutswari said.
She said the couple’s children were also devastated by the revelation, adding that they had been receiving counselling.
She said the family wants justice and believed all of the accused, if found guilty, should get the harshest sentence. Mutswari, who is also a practising lawyer, said she owed her career to her uncle who inspired her to study law.
Lidzebe and Munyai are expected to stand trial in the Polokwane high court for Maluleke's murder in May.
“Munyai has other several cases of robbery from 2020-2022. Nemakhavhani is also linked to several cases in Thohoyandou of housebreaking, robberies and theft,” said Malabi-Dzhangi.
mahopoz@sowetan.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.