MURDER accused Mzonjani Zulu, a National Freedom Party town councillor, had no option but to shoot an Inkatha Freedom Party supporter advancing on him with an assegai, the Durban Magistrate's Court heard yesterday.
Zulu was testifying in his bail application more than two months after he was arrested for the murder of Siya Dlamini.
He said that on the day of the shooting he walked out of the Ntuzuma Magistrate's Court in which four men had appeared in connection with the murder of an IFP supporter in the KwaMashu men's hostel.
"I saw three people approaching. One of the men pulled me by my jacket," Zulu told the court.
Zulu said he freed himself from the man's grip and took a few steps back.
He said a policeman also tried to stop the assegai-wielding man.
"I tried to move back to run away but the man continued advancing. And I took out my firearm but at first it got stuck. I eventually managed to pull out the firearm and pointed it at him. I ordered him not to come closer because I will shoot him but he continued advancing towards me.
"After he noticed I could no longer move backwards, he advanced towards me. Then I fired a warning shot directed at the lower part of his body. He continued to come at me in a forceful manner, wanting to strike me. Then I shot him in the head," Zulu told the court.
Dlamini was shot in full view of police officers and journalists.
"SABC footage will reveal what really happened," Zulu said.
Magistrate Trevor Levitt said he was surprised that the police had not asked for the film but had relied on eyewitness accounts.
He granted Zulu R5000 bail.
The matter was postponed to February 8.
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