Africa-Press – Eswatini. High Court – Head of Barberton Correctional Services Centre Anthony Mashabane has made claims that murder accused Sipho Shongwe follows the Muslim religion.
This transpired yesterday when Mashabane was led evidence in the murder trial of Shongwe at the High Court in Mbabane.
He was called to the witness box to give evidence on the relationship between Shongwe and South African drug kingpin Farouk Meyer.
Meyer is the man alleged to have colluded with Shongwe to meet hitman Mbuso ‘Ncaza’ Nkosi who pulled the trigger that claimed the life of businessman Victor Gamedze.
Mashabane’s testimony was meant to provide evidence that the two (Shongwe and Meyer) had a relationship during their time together at the Pretoria Maximum Security.
He narrated that Shongwe, upon his conviction for murder and armed robbery, was transferred to the Pretoria Maximum Security on March 3, 2001 where he met Meyer who was also convicted of murder and was a member of the Islamic faith.
According to Mashabane’s testimony, Meyer was transferred from the Johannesburg Correctional facility to the Pretoria Maximum Security on December 18th 2001, alleging that this is where he (Meyer) met Shongwe through their religion.
It must, however, be mentioned that Shongwe’s lawyer Advocate Lawrence Hodes strongly refuted Mashabane’s claims that Shongwe follows the Muslim faith but instead revealed that his client is a member of the ZCC.
Hodes stated categorically that Mashabela’s assertion was based on assumption and, therefore, lacks credibility.
“From what my client told me, he is not Muslim but attends the ZCC. So, I put it to you that the evidence you are presenting to this court is not accurate,” Hodes said.
However, Mashabane refused to back down, maintaining that he was basing his evidence on the information contained in Shongwe’s file when he was held in Pretoria before being transferred to Barberton Correctional Centre.
“That Shongwe is Muslim was information provided by him when he was convicted of his crimes as it is contained in his prison file. I would recall a time when the two (Shongwe and Meyer) were transported in the same car from the Pretoria Maximum Security to hospital on January 15th.
“They left at 8:30am and returned at 11:50am, which means they were able to chat as it was only two of them in the car. We respect the religion of convicts in all the correctional facilities in South Africa and this is why Muslim followers are allowed to celebrate the Ramadan month while in jail where they are able to pray together. They were in the Pretoria prison together for four years,” Mashabane said.
He further told the court how he knew Shongwe from his time at the Barberton Correctional facility after his transfer from Pretoria.
“He was very passionate about football and was even a manager for a soccer team in our prison. He was also part of the recreational committee and as head of the prison, we met at least twice a month. There is a lot I know about him.”
Mashabane was grilled for close to five hours by Hodes who questioned the evidence presented, observing a number of irregularities.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
