By Bahle Gama
A murder suspect is alleged to have tried making his father’s murder seem like a poaching gone wrong incident.
Fana Mbatha who was a manager at Hlane Game Reserve allegedly shot and killed his father and colleague George Mbatha and tried to dispose of the body and stage it as if he had been shot during poaching by rangers.
This was disclosed by Fana’s co-accused Ndumiso Fakudze in his bail application where together with a third suspect, Simphiwe Sean Shoulder were arrested for acting jointly in the furtherance of a common purpose unlawfully shot and killed the 68-year-old man.
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Fakudze said the incident took place on March 6, 2024, at the reserve where the Mbathas were employed when a fight broke out between the father and son.
He stated that on the day in question, he received a call from Fana to collect payment for work done at his parental home at the workstation.
Also to get instructions on how to proceed with the house construction works at the homestead.
He stated that he was in the company of Shoulder at the time, whose company he requested to collect the money.
Fakudze stated that he and Shoulder are residents at Mhlumeni and self-employed in various trades such as bricklaying and fence installation.
In his duration of working at Fana’s parental homestead, he supposedly picked up on the bad blood between the Mbathas.
Upon arrival at the reserve, Fakudze and Shoulder found Fana and George at the workstation. As they allegedly had bad blood, they engaged in a fierce fight after a commotion was ignited between them.
“We tried to intervene in their fight, but it was apparent the hostilities between the two were deep-seated.
We then went to the camp to raise an alarm, but we heard a gunshot being fired. When we rushed back, we found George lifeless on the ground,” Fakudze submitted.
He stated that when they saw this, Fana allegedly threatened to shoot them should they report the matter to the police.
Fana further demanded that they assist him in carrying the old man’s body out of camp and dress up a situation which will appear as if his father had been shot by poachers.
The duo obliged to Fana’s demands out of fear for their lives.
The following day, Fakudze received a call from a Sergeant Nkomonye who strongly advised him to report at the Simunye Police Station regarding George’s death.
“I was then subjected to intense interrogation and abuse by the police, but I still maintained my innocence in the matter.
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I was then locked up and told I would be charged in connection with George’s murder,” he said.
Fakudze pleaded that the court grant him bail as it did to Fana which was fixed at E50,000 and Shoulder at E15,000.
He stated that he is the breadwinner in the family where he takes care of four siblings who look up to him for subsistence since they have no source of income.
He also helps one of his siblings cater for her two children four and three years old, respectively.
The suspect undertook to abide by all conditions that may be imposed by the court as part of admission to bail, further, not to evade trial until the matter is concluded.
