'What is he doing? Is he trying to kill us?'

22 June 2010, 08:51

'Blue light car was cause of accident'

By Sharika Regchand Pietermaritzburg Bureau

A man on Monday recounted in the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court how he had lost control of his car on the southbound N3 near Ashburton, after he had heard two shots.

Moments earlier, he had been forced out of the fast lane by a VW Golf with flashing blue lights, Anuvasen Moodley testified in the trial of VIP bodyguards Hlanganani Nxumalo, 28, and Caiphus Xolani Ndlela, 36, who are charged with attempted murder in connection with the November 15, 2008, incident.

Both face an additional charge of unlawfully discharging a firearm, while Ndlela is also charged with reckless or negligent driving, or driving without reasonable consideration of other road users. Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Ndlela handed in a statement to the court, saying that Nxumalo had fired two warning shots but he did not know why. The bodyguards were on their way to pick up Social Development MEC Meshack Hadebe when the shooting occurred.

The State alleges that Nxumalo shot in the direction of Moodley's vehicle, causing him to lose control of the car.

Ndlela allegedly acted in common purpose and faces the same charges.

Moodley said he was trying to overtake a truck, when a VW Golf's blue light began flashing.

"I tried to move off the fast lane but could not as there was a lot of traffic... I tried to move to the left lane and heard a gunshot."

He added that the dual-lane carriageway then widened into three lanes and he moved into the middle lane when one of his passengers shouted: "Gun!" and he heard a shot. He took fright and lost control of his vehicle, which crashed into an oncoming vehicle.

Ndlela, in his plea, said they had been summoned at short notice to fetch Hadebe to inspect storm damage in the Molweni area.

En route he saw a Mazda move from the slow lane to the fast lane, forcing him to brake to avoid a collision.

"At the time, my blue light was on... I noticed the Mazda could not move over to the slow lane as there were vehicles... shortly thereafter the slow lane became clear and, instead of moving off the lane, the driver applied brakes. I reduced speed," he said.

Ndlela added that the Mazda's movements were erratic, causing Nxumalo to say: "What is this driver doing? Is he trying to kill us?"

Moments later he heard shots being fired and Nxumalo said he had fired a warning shot. Ndlela said he continued driving, not knowing why his colleague had fired shots. He said he did not seen what happened afterwards.

Nxumalo then dialled 10111 and reported the incident.

Ndlela denied acting in common purpose to kill anybody or to use a firearm. Magistrate Chris van Vuuren later adjourned the case to October 4.

This article was originally published on page 5 of The Mercury on June 22, 2010

The Star

Comments by Sonny

The 'untouchables ' must be brought to book, immediately!

What would happen if they should shoot one of our international visitors!