A man accused of killing a popular Catholic nun almost two years ago, yesterday confessed to his role in the hijacking of the frail 82-year-old woman, which ultimately led to her death.
Although Asiphe Ndikinda, 24, had previously pleaded not guilty and distanced himself from the crime despite having given police a confession, he yesterday placed himself at the scene of the crime during his evidence-in-chief before the Mthatha High Court.
Sister Mary Paul Tacke, a US-born nun, was kidnapped on June 15 2014 as she finished delivering food to her children’s project, Thembelihle Home, in Norwood, Mthatha.
Ndikinda and his co-accused Masixole Ndlebe, 23, faced a string of charges including murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of a firearm to commit an offence and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Ndlebe was last week acquitted as the court found no evidence linking him to the crime.
Ndikinda yesterday told the court how he had received a call from a “Masixole”, a former schoolmate, asking him to meet in Mthatha.
Ndikinda said he did not know Masixole’s surname or address but stressed it was not Ndlebe.
“In town Masixole showed me a gun and told me that we are to steal or hijack a vehicle and rob Indian stores in Libode. He threatened to shoot me if I refused,” he said.
They walked to Norwood where they spotted Tacke getting out of her vehicle and decided to hijack her.
“Masixole pointed the firearm (at her) with the intention to shoot, but I quickly grabbed and pushed her into the back seat with Masixole sitting next to her pointing the gun at her and the door was locked.
“I took the driver’s seat and sped onto the N2 in the direction of Sibangweni. We later took the Nyandeni turnoff and drove on the gravel road,” he said.
Ndikinda said he and Masixole began to quarrel and Masixole got into the driver’s seat while he was left standing outside the vehicle.
“He (Masixole) sped off with the victim, leaving me behind but the car overturned. I rushed to the rescue. Both were in great pain. We put the vehicle back on its wheels with the victim still inside. I drove towards Nyandeni Great Place.
“In the middle of nowhere, we removed her and left her in the valley near a bridge. Masixole fired a shot in her direction and we sped off towards Libode and then Mthatha,” he said.
Tacke’s body was found on June 16 2014 partially submerged in a stream between Tyharha and Nyandeni Great Place. According to a post mortem she was still alive when she was dumped in the stream.
“The cause of death was head injury, abdominal injuries, thoracic injuries, blunt trauma and drowning. She had six fractured ribs,” state principal forensic medical officer Dr Sylvester Babalo Qaba told the Mthatha High Court last year.
The case was adjourned for arguments today. Judgment may also be delivered or reserved. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Accused admits to nun’s slaying
Although Asiphe Ndikinda, 24, had previously pleaded not guilty and distanced himself from the crime despite having given police a confession, he yesterday placed himself at the scene of the crime during his evidence-in-chief before the Mthatha High Court.
Sister Mary Paul Tacke, a US-born nun, was kidnapped on June 15 2014 as she finished delivering food to her children’s project, Thembelihle Home, in Norwood, Mthatha.
Ndikinda and his co-accused Masixole Ndlebe, 23, faced a string of charges including murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of a firearm to commit an offence and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Ndlebe was last week acquitted as the court found no evidence linking him to the crime.
Ndikinda yesterday told the court how he had received a call from a “Masixole”, a former schoolmate, asking him to meet in Mthatha.
Ndikinda said he did not know Masixole’s surname or address but stressed it was not Ndlebe.
“In town Masixole showed me a gun and told me that we are to steal or hijack a vehicle and rob Indian stores in Libode. He threatened to shoot me if I refused,” he said.
They walked to Norwood where they spotted Tacke getting out of her vehicle and decided to hijack her.
“Masixole pointed the firearm (at her) with the intention to shoot, but I quickly grabbed and pushed her into the back seat with Masixole sitting next to her pointing the gun at her and the door was locked.
“I took the driver’s seat and sped onto the N2 in the direction of Sibangweni. We later took the Nyandeni turnoff and drove on the gravel road,” he said.
Ndikinda said he and Masixole began to quarrel and Masixole got into the driver’s seat while he was left standing outside the vehicle.
“He (Masixole) sped off with the victim, leaving me behind but the car overturned. I rushed to the rescue. Both were in great pain. We put the vehicle back on its wheels with the victim still inside. I drove towards Nyandeni Great Place.
“In the middle of nowhere, we removed her and left her in the valley near a bridge. Masixole fired a shot in her direction and we sped off towards Libode and then Mthatha,” he said.
Tacke’s body was found on June 16 2014 partially submerged in a stream between Tyharha and Nyandeni Great Place. According to a post mortem she was still alive when she was dumped in the stream.
“The cause of death was head injury, abdominal injuries, thoracic injuries, blunt trauma and drowning. She had six fractured ribs,” state principal forensic medical officer Dr Sylvester Babalo Qaba told the Mthatha High Court last year.
The case was adjourned for arguments today. Judgment may also be delivered or reserved. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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