A 69-year-old man from Mashobeni accused of murder has told the High Court that he acted in self-defence during a violent confrontation with a neighbour over an irrigation pipe.
Mveni Foster Mkhonta, who is charged with the murder of Sandile Mavuso, claimed the deceased attacked him first with a log before allegedly attempting to kill him using a bush knife. Mkhonta made the claims in a founding affidavit filed in support of his bail application before the High Court. He was arrested on April 30 by police from Gege and later charged with murder.
In his application, Mkhonta argued that there were sufficient grounds for him to be released on bail pending trial, maintaining that he did not intentionally kill the deceased. He stated that on the day of the incident, he had visited the Umphakatsi with a neighbour’s son who was seeking land.
Upon returning home, he alleged that his wife informed him that the deceased had been looking for him and he instructed her to direct Mavuso to his garden should he return. Mkhonta said he later saw the deceased herding cattle before Mavuso allegedly confronted him and accused him of stealing an irrigation pipe.
He claimed he was shocked by the allegation because he had owned and used the irrigation pipe for approximately three years. “He continued accusing me of taking his irrigation pipe. I believe he had not lost any pipe but wanted to forcefully take mine,” Mkhonta submitted in his affidavit.
According to Mkhonta, the deceased entered his garden and attempted to remove the irrigation pipe despite requests that the matter be discussed with elders familiar with ownership of the equipment. He alleged that Mavuso disconnected the pipe from a nearby stream and attempted to drag it away, leading to a confrontation.
