SIPHO ASKED ME FOR HIT MEN – ‘TSETLA’

MBABANE – Was Sipho Shongwe allegedly tired of Victor Gamedze to the point that he wanted to get rid of him?

This is if the evidence of Mbabane businessman and football administrator Sipho ‘Tsetla’ Bhembe is anything to go by. Yesterday, Bhembe gave evidence in Shongwe’s murder trial. He said he was acquainted to both Gamedze and Shongwe through football.

Bhembe, who is the Director of Vovovo FC, told the court that Shongwe allegedly asked him if he knew people who could help get rid of Gamedze. He clarified that Shongwe was allegedly referring to hit men who would kill Gamedze.
Bhembe said Shongwe informed him that he was not happy with Gamedze in that he was dominating them and that he was allegedly doing so through corruption.

Meeting

He said this was in December 2017 when the suspect had called him to a meeting at an Italian restaurant in Matsapha. The meeting, according to Bhembe, was also attended by Shongwe’s son, Sifiso.

Advocate Michael Hellens, who represents the Crown, asked Bhembe why Shongwe would approach him if he wanted to have Gamedze killed, and he said he had worked in the public transport industry in the Republic of South Africa.

He explained that in that country, it was not unusual to hire people to kill another and that Shongwe allegedly assumed that he might know hit men who they could engage to eliminate Gamedze. He alleged that Shongwe told him that there were people who would pay for the hit.

Bhembe stated that he informed Shongwe that Gamedze was his friend and that it would be difficult for him to do what he was asking him to do. He said he later learnt from one of Shongwe’s friends that turning down the latter was foolish.
Bhembe further said he was confused that Shongwe would be seen talking to Gamedze and come to him (Bhembe) to complain that he was not happy with him (Gamedze).

When Gamedze was murdered at Galp Filling Station on January 14, 2018, Bhembe informed the court that he immediately called the police, particularly the late Detective Solomon Mavuso and Bheki Dlamini. He said he informed Mavuso that they should arrest Shongwe, ‘Dzodzo’ Zikalala and Advocate Mduduzi ‘Tsotsi’ Mabila.

He narrated that during the soccer game at Somhlolo National Stadium prior to Gamedze’s murder, he had seen ‘Dzodzo’, who was an unfamiliar figure in football matches, allegedly in the company of Mabila. He stated that Gamedze was sitting in the royal box and Mabila went to occupy a seat, leaving ‘Dzodzo’ behind.

Testified

Bhembe testified that ‘Dzodzo’ disappeared for a while and returned with a man, who was slim, and they proceeded to the edge of the royal box. He alleged that ‘Dzodzo’ nodded his head in the direction of Gamedze in a manner that suggested that he was pointing or showing Gamedze to the man he was in the company of.

He further explained that after the football match, there was heavy traffic and he saw ‘Dzodzo’ travelling in a red VW Golf. He testified that Gamedze’s car was also in the traffic and there were two cars between the deceased’s car and the one driven by ‘Dzodzo’.

Bhembe said he drove past them and later learnt that Gamedze had been murdered. The businessman stated that he called Mavuso and advised that they should arrest Shongwe, Mabila and Dzodzo. He acknowledged that he had not seen Shongwe anywhere on the day of the shooting. The police, according to the businessman, said his evidence was not tangible.

On the Monday, after Gamedze had been murdered, Bhembe said he saw ‘Dzodzo’ near the CTA and they talked about the death of the Gamedze. He said ‘Dzodzo’ informed him that he was amazed that people suspected him for the murder of Gamedze because he had no business in football. He is alleged to have said that those who were involved in the sport should be blamed for the murder.

According to Bhembe, he later saw pictures in the newspapers of the man he had seen at Somhlolo National Stadium, in the company of ‘Dzodzo’, to whom he had allegedly gestured with his head towards the direction where Gamedze was sitting.

“After the shooting, I was able to put one and one together and it was clear to me who had orchestrated the killing of Gamedze,” said Bhembe.
He said he wanted to go to the police but he was afraid. However, he said having overcome his fear, he eventually went to the police in March 2018 and recorded a statement. However, he stated that he recorded another statement last week because he had not informed the police about everything that he knew regarding the matter.

Complained

He mentioned that he informed the police how Shongwe had allegedly planned the whole thing when he met him at the restaurant in Matsapha. Bhembe told the court that he complained to Shongwe that he was unable to reach him on the phone because he used different numbers.   

Bhembe admitted, when cross-examined by Advocate Laurence Hodes, who has been instructed by Lucky Howe and Ben J Simelane on behalf of Shongwe, that he never saw the suspect on the day of the shooting incident.

Shongwe denied that he ever met Bhembe at the restaurant to plot the death of Gamedze. He told the court that Bhembe and Gamedze had a close friendship and he would never have approached him to plot his murder. Bhembe said this was not true. The advocate said Bhembe was removed from a WhatsApp group which Shongwe was part of because, according to the suspect, he shared what they discussed in the group with Gamedze.

Bhembe said he was removed from the group because Shongwe had formed Matsapha United and they were in competition since he ran Vovovo FC. The advocate said Bhembe had lied to the police in that in his first statement, he did not mention the details of their meeting at the restaurant in Matsapha yet he signed that statement indicating that its contents were true. Bhembe said at the time he was overcome by fear that he would be killed as well.

However, the advocate reminded him that Gamedze died in January and he recorded the initial statement in March, having overcome his fear and he agreed. Bhembe said there were details he mentioned to the police which were not recorded in his statement.
The matter continues today at 9am before Judge Mbutfo Mamba.

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