Swazi Observer

FULL STORY

DRUNK PETROL ATTENDANT SIGNED SIPHOâ€™S COURT PAPERS

By Observer Reporter | 2018-03-22

The former warder turned petrol attendant from Barberton Maximum Prison who allegedly confirmed in an affidavit that he was present when murder suspect Sipho Shongwe was legitimately released, stunned the High Court yesterday when he said he signed the affidavit while drunk.

The former warder Obadia Makhanza Ndlovu, who was brought by the crown from South Africa, told Judge Sipho Nkosi that he did not even go through the contents of the affidavit that purported Shongwe was legitimately released from prison on March 3, 2008 but merely signed.

Giving evidence under oath, Ndlovu told the court that he was approached by one Cyprian Shongwe who came with the document to him at his house and was asked to sign it and did not know what it was meant for.

Cyprian, who has only been identified as CP Shongwe, is the one whom the crown, represented by Principal Crown Counsel Absalom Makhanya, alleged is related to the incarcerated Shongwe.

Sipho is alleged to have killed businessman Victor Gamedze on January 14 at Galp Filling Station in Ezulwini.

Makhanya yesterday maintained the submission he made last Friday to the effect that Shongwe (accused) was able to manoeuvre while in jail and has been able to contact his friends in order to manufacture fraudulent documents.

During his evidence, Ndlovu, whom many in the public gallery and lawyers from the bar, including the media, had their eyes glued to him as he gave evidence, further told the court that he was aware of the two affidavits that were both signed by him.

He stated that the first affidavit dated March 8, 2018 which purposed that he was present when Shongwe was released on parole and that other prisoners even cheered as he bade them farewell, was the one he signed while drunk after being given by CP Shongwe at his house.

On the second affidavit dated March 15, 2018, Ndlovu told the court he was the one who singed same, adding that it reflected the true position to the effect that he was not at Barberton Maximum Prison when Shongwe was released and further that he does not even know Shongwe.

“My Lord I signed the first document while drunk and did not see its contents. it is true that I was no longer at that prison when Shongwe was released,” Ndlovu said, much to everyone’s surprise. He further told the court that he is now employed as a petrol attendant at a filling station known as Jatira (Puma) but confirmed that he was a warder from 1989 until 2014.

This was confirmed by the Head of the Barberton Correctional Centre Noah Seshason Nkosi who told the court that Ndlovu was not even working at Barberton prison at the time Shongwe is said to have been released.

Judge Nkosi wondered why Ndlovu signed the first affidavit at his house, noting that there is something wrong in the manner the police in South Africa operate.

It was at this point that the Nkosi (Barberton Correctional) used Judge Nkosi’s words to the effect that kunebufirifiri (there is something fishy) in the whole issue.

share story