State to reopen case against Ngwenya

The state is to reopen its case against politically connected businessman Peter-Paul Ngwenya‚ who allegedly threatened his long-term friend and former business associate Fani Titi and used a racist insult against him.

Ngwenya‚ who spent almost five years on Robben Island‚ is on trial facing a charge of crimen injuria for using a racist insult in an sms to Titi.

In the same sms‚ Ngwenya tells Aqeel Patel‚ the managing director of MRC Media‚ that “you will bleed” and that Titi “will see his mother”‚ which Titi regarded as a threat to his life since Ngwenya knew his mother had died.

The conflict between Ngwenya and Titi‚ who had been friends for 20 years‚ stems from a multimillion-rand deal that went sour. Ngwenya claims that Titi owes him close to R54-million.

The situation degenerated when Ngwenya called Free State-born Titi a “Qwaqwa [insult]” and an “[insult] boss” in an sms intended for Patel.

On Thursday‚ the Magistrate's Court postponed the matter to June 27 for the state to reopen its case and lead new evidence.

Patel had earlier told the court that Ngwenya had stormed his business premises demanding that dividends due to Columbia‚ a company which he was an ordinary shareholder of‚ be paid to his personal account.

According to evidence led in court‚ Ngwenya was in an aggressive mood and Patel was left with no choice but to pay the money directly into his account even though it was to be paid to Columbia 's account.

Patel had earlier testified that he was also informed that Ngwenya had said he would kill both him and Titi if he did not get his money. The accused had apparently referred to them as dogs.