A State witness in the murder trial of Matsapha businessman Sifiso Simelane yesterday told the High Court that accused Sipho Zikalala slit the deceased’s throat while he held his legs during the attack in January 2024.
Selby Sgaga Dlamini, who was initially charged alongside the first accused before turning State witness, detailed how Simelane was allegedly kidnapped, assaulted, robbed and eventually murdered after being lured from his workplace in Matsapha to Malkerns.
Dlamini testified that after Simelane was abducted from his company premises, he was repeatedly assaulted and restrained with sellotape around his hands, legs and mouth before being driven to a bush near Malkerns Research Station.
“When we arrived in the bush, Zikalala and Lindokuhle Dlamini dragged Simelane out of the car and took him into the bush while Njabulo Magagula and I remained in the vehicle for a short while,” Dlamini stated.
He said he later followed them and found Zikalala interrogating Simelane about where he kept his money while repeatedly stabbing him with a knife.
“Simelane’s hands were tied behind his back and his legs were still bound with sellotape,” he testified. According to Dlamini, the knife had been found inside Simelane’s vehicle.
He further testified that as the stabbing continued, the sellotape around Simelane’s legs loosened because he was struggling and moving in an attempt to save himself.
“Simelane kept crying out about his children. Zikalala then slit his throat with the knife. While he was struggling to breathe and fighting for his life, I used his belt to tie his legs because the sellotape had become loose during the struggle,” said Dlamini.
He said blood splashed onto both Zikalala and Lindokuhle during the incident.
Dlamini further testified that after Simelane was killed, Zikalala threw the knife deep into the bush. He said he advised Zikalala to retrieve the weapon because it could be used as evidence against him.
After recovering the knife, they allegedly returned to the vehicle where Magagula had remained.
“When we got back to the car, Magagula asked Zikalala whether Simelane was dead. Zikalala confirmed it,” Dlamini testified.
He said they then drove to a nearby water canal where Zikalala and Lindokuhle washed blood from their hands before proceeding to Simelane’s home in Bethany.
According to Dlamini, they used Simelane’s car keys and a remote control gate opener to gain entry to the property. He said they found a BMW parked in the garage and proceeded into the house where several items were stolen.
Dlamini detailed how the alleged plan to target Simelane was conceived days before the murder.
He testified that on January 18, 2024, he received a call from his sister-in-law, Bongiwe Nokuphila Nhlabatsi, who requested a meeting to discuss what she described as an opportunity to make quick money.
During the meeting, Nhlabatsi was accompanied by Nonhlanhla Magagula, an employee at Simelane’s hotel, Matsapha Gallery.
Dlamini said Nhlabatsi informed him that there was money they wanted to obtain from a businessman living in Bethany who was related to her through marriage.
“She told me there was fast cash and that the businessman had more than E100 000 intended for lobola negotiations which had since been postponed,” Dlamini alleged.
He further testified that Nhlabatsi assured him that Nonhlanhla was part of the plan and could be trusted.
A day later, he was allegedly taken to The Gables in Ezulwini where he met Njabulo Magagula who was introduced as a key participant in the operation.
Dlamini said Magagula informed him that the money was supposedly kept in a safe at a friend’s house in Bethany. He testified that discussions on how to execute the plan took place at The Gables before he returned home and was instructed to come back the following day.
According to Dlamini, Magagula devised a plan to lure Simelane by claiming he had secured a tyre business deal. He said Magagula and Simelane were involved in a tyre business supplying tyres to bus and truck operators.
The State witness further told the court that after Simelane departed, they went to Ngwane Park where they consumed alcohol before returning to the site later that evening.
He said Simelane had instructed the security guard to allow them access should they return.
“After we got back, we attacked the security guard and took his uniform, which I then wore so that Simelane would not recognise me,” Dlamini testified.
He said Simelane later returned to the site after being informed by Magagula that the truck carrying the tyres was about to arrive.
According to Dlamini, Magagula engaged Simelane in conversation to lower his guard before the attack was launched.
“I kept my distance because I feared Simelane would recognise that I was not the security guard he had seen earlier. I then approached him from behind, choked him and overpowered him. We tied his hands and legs with sellotape,” he stated.
Bail was then revoked for Lindokuhle, Nhlabatsi and Njabulo after the witness presented his evidence. They were then remanded into custody pending completion of the matter.
