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Noby 'taking out corruption'
15/05/2008 22:10 - (SA)
Bloemfontein - The family of slain Free State official Noby Ngombane was ill-treated by police during the murder investigation, a judicial inquiry into his death heard on Thursday.
Advocate Willem Edeling, legal counsel for Ngombane's wife, Nokwanda, told the inquiry the police investigation launched against the family after the incident was "malicious and one-sided".
"Police conceded they were building a case," Edeling said in his final address before the inquiry.
"The big picture was clear, this man was taking out corruption in the province. What a sad day (when) he was killed."
Edeling said the way the investigation was handled was "unacceptable" in light of the arrest of the family.
Ngombane, a senior official in Premier Beatrice Marshoff's office and adviser to two former premiers, was shot at his home in Hillsboro, Bloemfontein, on March 22, 2005.
He died that night in hospital.
Ngombane's wife, Nokwanda, her brother and sister, Bongani and Thandiswa, and two cousins, Vuyokazi Mlambo and Sephumle Booi, were arrested for the murder, but those charges were eventually withdrawn.
Edeling said there was a "golden wire" running through the evidence, which included the State's own expert witness being misled and Nokwanda's brother, Bongani, allegedly being tortured by police to confess.
He said the killing of Noby also had "strong undertones", referring to evidence given in camera.
Edeling alluded that although names had been mentioned in camera, no one was implicated for pulling the trigger.
During the inquiry, Nokwanda, in camera, testified on who she thought her husband's political enemies were.
Told court she was scared
She had told the inquiry that Ngombane was killed by those enemies, but refused to name them in open session, saying she was scared.
She indicated she had two children to look after and she "knew the politics" in the Free State.
The inquiry ruled that she could give evidence in camera and that no information on the in-camera session could be published.
The ruling was repeated for a second closed session in which an unidentified person gave testimony.
Edeling expressed concern to Regional Magistrate Dawn Soomaroo about the way police had investigated the murder.
"The whole State machinery was against them (Nokwanda and the others)," said Edeling.
He submitted that there was no evidence that could link them to the murder.
State advocate Jannie Botha conceded that an unknown person had killed Ngombane.
He said there was no evidence before the inquiry that pointed to "who killed" the person.
The inquiry, nevertheless, questioned the State on the motive for the arrests.
Warranted police action
It was indicated that it seemed the evidence against Nokwanda and the others "did not carry much weight" and that it was "known before".
Botha said at the time there were factors to warrant police action and that the inquiry should keep in mind the aspect of "all clever after the fact".
He also told the inquiry to keep in mind that the State decided not to prosecute.
The inquiry's finding was expected to be made public on May 21.
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