A firearm alleged to have been used in a shooting that claimed the life of Mthatha student Sisonke Mbolekwa — and wounded others — was recovered in Port Alfred, an almost five hours’ drive away.
Walter Sisulu University acting residence manager Manelisi Mampana, 54, who is on precautionary suspension, told the Mthatha magistrate’s court on Tuesday that after the shooting on WSU’s Nelson Mandela Drive campus in Mthatha on April 15, and after opening a case with the police relating to the torching of his car, he drove to Port Alfred, where his mother lives, to tell his family what had happened.
The firearm was recovered on April 19 after he took police to the Port Alfred home.
Days before the shooting, Mampana’s mother, Nonzwakazi, had asked him to take his father’s firearm from her homestead in Willowvale, fearing it would be stolen.
Mampana said, before the shooting, he had taken the firearm to the Willowvale police station, where he was allegedly told firearms were not kept there unless they had been involved in a crime.
He was advised to take it to a gunsmith and drove back to Mthatha, intending to take it to East London when he had petrol.
Mampana faces charges of murder, attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an offence, and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
Testifying on Tuesday in his bail application, Mampana said after his car was torched, he was given a car from the university.
He then drove to open the case about his car, before heading to a place of safety. Later, he travelled to Port Alfred.
Cross-examined by state prosecutor advocate Siphokazi Maarman, Mampana said he had asked his mother to keep the firearm there.
Asked why he did not take the gun to any of the police stations between Mthatha and Port Alfred, he said it was “too late ... and that’s why I took it with me”.
Maarman put it to Mampana that he interfered with the police investigation by instructing WSU employees to pick up cartridges at the crime scene and, as a result, police only collected a single cartridge.
Mampana disputed this.
Maarman said he should have reported what happened to the police.
Mampana said: “I don’t want to repeat myself. I’m applying for bail. I didn’t think the advocate would remind me where justice starts.”
He maintained that he had been attacked.
Sakhumzi Nombambela, for Mampana, read a letter from university vice-chancellor Rushiella Songca, supporting Mampana.
The letter expressed shock at the alleged attack on Mampana and his family.
The letter assured Mampana that the university was treating the matter with the utmost concern.
It said the university would cover all necessary costs incurred as a result of the incident, including damaged property, hospital stay, and additional support or counselling for him and his family.
The hearing resumes on Thursday.
Daily Dispatch
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.