Ex-cop accused of shooting landlord's son, apply for bail

Six months have passed since the arrest of former police officer Sgt Nditsheni Lefty Mphephu (44) from Vuwani, who stands accused of fatally shooting his landlord's son at Makwarela Township.

The incident occurred in November 2023, and he has been in custody since. After numerous failed attempts and abandonment by his legal representatives, his bail application is finally proceeding, and he might know his fate soon.

Mphephu appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court, represented by new legal counsel, on Tuesday, 21 May. Unlike previous appearances, where residents of Makwarela came out in large numbers to support the family, only family members were in court.

During the appearance, the visibly nervous Mphephu took to the witness stand and was cross-examined by his legal representative. In his testimony, Mphephu explained the events following the incident, until he turned himself in to the Thohoyandou station commissioner. He also indicated to the court that he would not skip any appearances. He stated that the killing had not been intentional and that he would not plead guilty to the charge.

Mphephu also told the court he had been forced to resign from his position as a police officer because of pressure from work. He added that he had resigned without any advice from legal representatives as they had been nowhere to be seen while he was in prison. The case was postponed overnight for cross-examination by the State.

His arrest and the ensuing bail application followed an incident that happened on the evening of Monday, 20 November 2023, when the accused, who was attached to the Public Order Policing unit in Thohoyandou, had allegedly shot Mr Teith Muthige several times in the stomach and upper body.

The shooting followed an altercation over the loud music the police officer was playing in his car while students were studying for their final examinations. An argument ensued, and Mphephu, who had allegedly been drinking while listening to the music in his car, then apparently went into his house, brough out his firearm and shot Muthige. After the shooting, Mphephu allegedly fled to his home village in Vuwani.

He was arrested in Vuwani on Tuesday, 21 November 2023. When he first appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court that same day, he was initially charged with attempted murder and was remanded in custody. The charge, however, changed to murder when Muthige died from his wounds.

Date:24 May 2024

By: Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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