By Bahle Gama
POLICE investigations have revealed that slain Matsapha Businessman and biker Sifiso ‘Rod Rod’ Simelane’s murder was orchestrated by his fiancé’s sister-in-law.
Bongiwe Nokuphila Nhlabatsi is in police custody and moved a bail application which has been opposed by the crown for reasons.
According to the investigation, Nhlabatsi became aware that Simelane who was engaged to Mbali Mamba her sister-in-law was very rich and kept his money in a safe at his home in Bethany.
It also came to her attention that Simelane held a lot of money in bank accounts as he was also in the hospitality industry wherein, he ran the Matsapha Gallery Hotel.
She reportedly envied the lavish lifestyle her sister-in-law was exposed to and devised a plan to get money from Simelane.
Sometime in January, Simelane invited some members of the Mamba family to his home at Bethany for dinner with the intent to meet them before the official lobola ceremony which was scheduled for January 18.
The accused person was one of the people who came to the homestead as part of the delegation. She had a good time that she decided she wanted part of the wealth, and from thereon started planning how to get a share of what was enjoyed by her sister-in-law.
She also got to know during the dinner that the bride price would somehow be in the margin of E100,000 and would be withdrawn a few days before the lobola day.
Nhlabatsi then allegedly planned that Simelane be robbed and killed together with his fiancé before the lobola ceremony.
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She then began looking for and recruiting people who were going to assist her in the crimes.
She first approached the fifth accused person in the matter, Selby Sgaga Dlamini who agreed and indicated he would need extra hands to ensure the robbery and murder were successfully executed.
She allegedly went on to approach one of her friends whom she knew was in dire need of money and told her about the plan.
he friend agreed to look for people who would be interested and made a call to a Njabulo Magagula who is still at large and agreed to meet them at Ezulwini.
Upon meeting, Magagula agreed to the plan and indicated he would look for additional people.
According to investigations, the following day, Nhlabatsi called her friend to tell Magagula to bring his team to Matsapha to explain the job to them, to which he came with three men, and they discussed the plan.
She allegedly proceeded to show the ‘hit men’ Simelane’s homestead at Bethany.
Another meeting with Sgaga was arranged to introduce the entire team and they went through the plan once again.
It was scheduled that on Friday, January 19, 2024, the plan would be executed but Magagula was nowhere to be found and the team had to abort.
e resurfaced on Sunday, January 21, 2024, and made excuses about his unavailability on the agreed day.
He suggested that they continue with the plan on Monday, January 22, 2024, and all concerned parties were informed.
On the Monday, the men met and proceeded with the plan which entailed calling and luring Simelane into a warehouse for viewing of tyres that he was interested in buying.
Magagula made the call and informed Simelane that the purported truck carrying the tyres was passing the Mahhala complex and he should come on-site.
The team then went to the warehouse first and took their positions waiting for Simelane to arrive. When he did, he was grabbed from behind and vice-gripped with an iron rod on the neck and he fell.
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The others joined and tied Simelane on the hands and legs, further putting a masking tape on the mouth.
Simelane is said to have tried to fight back but was overpowered by the suspects, then when he enquired what they wanted, they said money, and he pleaded that they didn’t kill him as there was money at his home and he would give it to them.
The following day news broke out about Simelane’s disappearance and robbery at his homestead and Nhlabatsi acted surprised when she was told the news, to the extent of going to Bethany to offer support to her sister-in-law.
Also, the news of Simelane’s murder and body being found at Malkerns came and she joined the family in grieving.
She also found out that Simelane’s missing vehicle had a tracker, and she informed her team to warn Sgaga who was in its possession to get rid of the vehicle before he was caught by the police.
Later on, she allegedly made calls to her team members not to tell anyone she was involved because she would deny her involvement.
From the money and items stolen, she only received a share of E1,500 despite being the mastermind behind the murder.
Investigations further show that Nhlabatsi had ordered the team to kill both Simelane and her sister-in-law.
She further began intimidating potential witnesses before her arrest, wherein she would send text messages and voice notes in this regard.
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According to the investigation, some of the money shared was withdrawn at Matsapha after Simelane had been forced to surrender his cards and pins and they managed to withdraw E3,000 only as some of the cards declined as withdrawals had to be first approved by Simelane’s sister.
In her bail application, Nhlabatsi told the court that she is pregnant and has children to look after.
In its bail opposing papers, the Crown has told the court that Simelane’s death caused a shockwave across the country.
It also hurts the country’s economy as it will discourage potential investors from investing in the country if businesspeople are executed in the manner that Simelane was.
