Slain deputy principal’s murder weapon was ‘under lock and key’

The weapon allegedly used to murder Coffee Bay Secondary School deputy principal Kholisile Baleni was supposedly under lock and key in the home of his father-in-law, prominent Eastern Cape bishop the Reverend Mandlenkosi Oliver Mgutyana, who is among those charged with the killing.

Kholisile’s bullet-riddled body was found inside his minibus on October 28 last year.

Mgutyana told prosecutor Sicelosiviwe Mbeleki during cross-examination in his bail hearing at the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court on Friday that the gun allegedly used to shoot Baleni could not have been a .38-calibre revolver which belonged to Mgutyana’s deceased younger brother Mcoseleli Noxhaga.

“I am the only person who has the keys to the safe where I’ve kept the firearm at my home in Mount Ayliff for many years.

“Yes, a .38 revolver belonged to Mcoseleli, but is not the one used in the shooting – that might be a different one,” Mgutyana told the packed courtroom.

The prosecutor said the firearm was registered to Noxhaga, who committed suicide with it in 2004.

Mgutyana, 68, the African Gospel Church’s Western Transkei district head and superintendent, his daughter Noluthando Baleni, 46, who is Baleni’s widow, and Bonga Skolpati, 22, are charged with the premeditated murder of Kholisile.

Noluthando is a teacher at Thandokazi Senior Primary School in Qunu and unemployed Skolpati is from Ncerha Village One near East London.

Although the prosecutor said Baleni and Skolpati had confessed to the murder, the trio have now told the court they would plead not guilty.

Mgutyana confirmed the revolver had been in his possession since handed over to him by police on April 4 2005, following his brother’s death.

“Ballistic reports show that the projectiles that were discharged and killed Kholisile, were from the firearm registered in Mcoseleli Noxhaga’s name,” the prosecutor said.

Mbeleki said the gun was found in Dutywa and was now with police.

“That’s not Mcoselile’s gun. His gun is still locked in my safe. I am the only person with the keys. If the gun is no longer in the safe, the only person who might have removed it, is me,” said Mgutyana confidently.

The prosecutor put it to the church leader: “You were the one who made available the gun for the hitman to kill Kholisile Baleni, your son-in-law.”

He said Mgutyana had “sealed the deal” to have Kholisile murdered after a traditional healer named Rhadebe or Khayalethu spilt the beans that Kholisile had hired him to kill Noluthando.

Mgutyana denied the narrative, claiming his innocence.

“Anyone saying I am involved in this murder or conspiracy would be telling lies. Since I was ordained as pastor in 1972 in my youth, I was never involved in any atrocities of this world.

“I was never suspended by my church due to unholy behaviour. I never clashed with the law. Now, in my old age and as I am nearing death, I am falsely accused of such a serious crime and separated from my wife.”

The state fears for Mgutyana’s safety if he is released on bail, and the prosecutor has told him: “Your arrest saved your life”.

Earlier, the prosecutor said Noluthando had bought the traditional healer – who had become her boyfriend – a car but that Skolpati, the man who allegedly pulled the trigger, was only paid R300 of the promised fee of R11000 to kill Kholisile. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za