A South African National Defence Force soldier who allegedly went on a shooting spree in a Durban township which left a woman dead and several others injured was glib as he sauntered into the dock at the Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Thembinkosi Ngcobo‚ 26‚ who faces charges of murder‚ attempted murder‚ kidnapping and robbery with aggravating circumstances‚ waved to his family who occupied most of the public gallery.
Ngcobo‚ a rifleman stationed at 8SAI in Upington in the Northern Cape‚ is accused of going on a rampage last week after suspecting that his girlfriend had cheated on him.
He is understood to have driven to Ntuzuma from Upington and stands accused of storming the family home while looking for his girlfriend.
It was at this time that Nokwanda Mbambo was shot and another relative was wounded.
A short while later‚ after he allegedly kidnapped his girlfriend’s brother to enlist his help in a search for the girlfriend‚ a policeman was wounded while attempting to confront Ngcobo. A third person was also injured during this time.
Ngcobo spent two days on the run before arriving at his family homestead in Ebuhleni in civilian clothes‚ allegedly still carrying his military-issue assault rifle.
He was later handed over to the police under military guard.
State prosecutor Stan Milozewski said that because the shooting spanned two policing precincts‚ two separate dockets would be issued and linked. He asked that Ngcobo be remanded in custody pending the finalisation of the police investigation.
Ngcobo’s attorney‚ Sizwe Cele‚ asked that his client be detained in isolation at Westville Prison while awaiting his remand date.
“He is a member of the SANDF and we have requested that he be kept in isolation for his own safety‚” he said.
He will appear in court again on February 17.
'Killer' soldier saunters into the dock to face the music
Thembinkosi Ngcobo‚ 26‚ who faces charges of murder‚ attempted murder‚ kidnapping and robbery with aggravating circumstances‚ waved to his family who occupied most of the public gallery.
Ngcobo‚ a rifleman stationed at 8SAI in Upington in the Northern Cape‚ is accused of going on a rampage last week after suspecting that his girlfriend had cheated on him.
He is understood to have driven to Ntuzuma from Upington and stands accused of storming the family home while looking for his girlfriend.
It was at this time that Nokwanda Mbambo was shot and another relative was wounded.
A short while later‚ after he allegedly kidnapped his girlfriend’s brother to enlist his help in a search for the girlfriend‚ a policeman was wounded while attempting to confront Ngcobo. A third person was also injured during this time.
Ngcobo spent two days on the run before arriving at his family homestead in Ebuhleni in civilian clothes‚ allegedly still carrying his military-issue assault rifle.
He was later handed over to the police under military guard.
State prosecutor Stan Milozewski said that because the shooting spanned two policing precincts‚ two separate dockets would be issued and linked. He asked that Ngcobo be remanded in custody pending the finalisation of the police investigation.
Ngcobo’s attorney‚ Sizwe Cele‚ asked that his client be detained in isolation at Westville Prison while awaiting his remand date.
“He is a member of the SANDF and we have requested that he be kept in isolation for his own safety‚” he said.
He will appear in court again on February 17.
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