Evidence of sex workers ‘crucial’ in convicting clergymen’s killers

The evidence of two sex workers was crucial in convicting the three killers of a Methodist bishop and another church leader who was shot dead in two separate attacks in Mthatha.

The churchmen were both shot in their cars almost four years ago.

At the time of their killings — which happened about 10 days  apart —  each man had a sex worker in his car.

Judge Richard Brooks said the evidence of the sex workers had been “crucial” in securing the convictions.

One of the women was shot but survived.

Mfundo Mafa, 24, of Lujizweni village and Babini Mangala, 27, of Canzibe village, both in Ngqeleni, and Bezile Nokwabuza, 34, of Goso village in eMaxesibeni, were convicted by Brooks in the Mthatha high court on Tuesday and will be sentenced on Thursday.

The state and defence attorneys made their arguments in mitigation and aggravation of sentence on Wednesday.

Reformed Presbyterian church steward Zolisa Kolwane was shot in the head in his car by Mafa and Mangala near Vulindlela Heights in Southernwood, Mthatha, on July 20 2017, the judge found.

Kolwane was sitting in his car with a sex worker, who was also shot but survived.

The killers made off with Kolwane’s 9mm Norinco pistol and R50. Kolwane died in hospital.

About 10 days later, on August 1, Brooks found that the same gang fatally shot the Methodist bishop for the Clarkebury district, Thembinkosi Fandaleki, 54, in his car while he was sitting with a sex worker near the railway station.

The assailants stole phones, a wallet, a blanket, R50 and a 9mm pistol.

Fandaleki was found dead inside his vehicle near the PRD building in the town’s CBD. He had been shot in the chest.

Mafa and Mangala were found guilty of both murders, two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms with intent to commit an offence and unlawful possession of ammunition.

Nokwabuza was found guilty of Fandaleki’s murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, the unlawful possession of firearms with an intent to commit an offence and unlawful possession of ammunition.

Brooks ruled that the state had proved beyond reasonable doubt the men were guilty as charged.

He said the two sex workers’ evidence was undisputed.

“In this regard, the direct evidence of the two sex workers is crucial,” the judge said.

The two were among 32 witnesses who testified for the state.

The men confessed to the crimes and their confessions were corroborated by evidence presented by the state.

“The details given by the three in their confessions in the manner in which the events played out on the nights in question is corroborated by the evidence.

“The cycle of evidence is completed by the undisputed connection between the firearms and ammunition found in the possession of [Mafa and Mangala].”

He said the men intentionally participated with a common purpose in the crimes.

All three defence attorneys refused to give the Dispatch their names.

They pleaded with the judge to show their clients mercy because they were young, first-time offenders.

Mafa had a five-year-old son and was contributing towards his maintenance, Mangala was the father of  an eight-year-old girl and Nokwabuza had three children he was supporting.

However, state prosecutor advocate Ndoyisile Lamla argued that the offences were very serious and that the killers had not taken the court into their confidence by trying to explain why they had committed the offences.

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