The murder of respected Zwide doctor Bantu Noqekwa took a shocking turn when his ex-wife and mother of his three children, traced to her son’s flat in Cape Town, appeared in a Gqeberha court, where she was charged with orchestrating his violent death.
Three other people — suspected of being involved in the orchestration of his fatal shooting at his surgery in Njoli Street — have also since been arrested.
It is understood that at least one of the other suspects is turning state witness.
“All I can say is I’m patiently waiting for the day the judge hands down the sentence,” Noqekwa’s brother Litha said.
“I’m also hoping to get speedy assistance from the law in getting care for my brother’s children.”
There was a buzz outside the New Brighton magistrate’s court on Thursday morning as Nothukela Ethel Mphahlwa Noqekwa, who lived in Lovemore Park at the time of the murder, took to the dock with what looked like a baby blanket draped over her shoulders and a blue beanie on her head.
Among the large group who turned up at court was deputy mayor Babalwa Lobishe.
The 46-year-old Ethel, as she is better known, was slapped with a string of charges, including murder and conspiracy to commit murder, after she was arrested in Cape Town at about 4pm on Tuesday — almost 800km away from the scene of the crime.
After a brief appearance, her case was postponed to June 15 for a formal bail application.
The cold-blooded murder, which grabbed national headlines, took place on the evening of May 3 at Noqekwa’s medical practice in Njoli Street.
The practice was still open when four men barged into Noqekwa’s consultation room and strapped him to the bed, before shooting him multiple times at point-blank range. The 56-year-old general practitioner died at the scene.
The brazen gunmen fled after removing the CCTV cameras in a move to cover their tracks. Nothing else appeared to have been taken.
I am very happy with the progress made this far ... I hope the perpetrators will be brought to book ... and I can confirm that the suspect is the former wife of my cousin, Dr Bantu
— Eado Suka, Noqekwa’s cousin
Ethel’s alleged accomplices are expected to appear in the same court on Friday.
Deputy provincial commissioner for crime detection Major-General Zithulele Dladla said they also faced charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. “I would prefer that at this stage that we do not discuss the motive for the murder as our investigations are still ongoing,” Dladla said, adding that more arrests were imminent.
Noqekwa’s cousin, Eado Suka, said she was relieved when she heard the police had made a breakthrough.
“I am very happy with the progress made this far,” Suka said, adding that justice should prevail.
“I hope the perpetrators will be brought to book ... and I can confirm that the suspect is the former wife of my cousin, Dr Bantu.”
According to a family member, the two were divorced in 2012, and Noqekwa never remarried.
Suka said she was not aware of the arrest of the three other suspects.
Eastern Cape legislature chair of chairs, MPL Tony Duba, who was also present in court, lauded the work of the police.
“Major-General Ncata and your team, we see you,” Duba said.
“They recently arrested the [alleged] mass killers from the Kwazakhele birthday party and now this ...
“Dr Noqekwa must continue to rest in peace knowing his [alleged] killers will be jailed.”
Duba said the time was ripe for Nelson Mandela Bay residents not only to take a stand against criminals, but to also go to court and support the families who had been left behind to pick up the pieces.
“As leaders, we must be close to the broken hearts and we must oppose bail for these monsters.
“In this case, bail must also be opposed.”
Community activist Pamela Mabini said she was appreciative of the expeditious resolution of the case by law enforcement authorities, but was dismayed to discover that the accused was someone she knew.
I find her [alleged] actions to be exceedingly callous, lacking any semblance of compassion, and profoundly repugnant.
— Community activist Pamela Mabini
“I find her [alleged] actions exceedingly callous, lacking any semblance of compassion, and profoundly repugnant,” Mabini said.
“It is incomprehensible to fathom how a human being can conceive such a notion of [allegedly] terminating the life of someone they once professed to love and with whom they shared an intimate bond.”
Mabini said the community was deeply aggrieved as Noqekwa was widely regarded as one of Gqeberha’s best and much-loved doctors.
“His untimely demise is a profound loss and while I am grateful that the [alleged] perpetrators are being held accountable, it is important to acknowledge that justice, though necessary, cannot resurrect the departed,” she said.
“The diligent efforts of the investigating officers in handling this case are commendable and exemplify their unwavering dedication. It is our collective desire to ensure that justice is served in accordance with the law.”
Eastern Cape community safety MEC Xolile Nqatha welcomed the arrests.
“This is tangible proof of what can be achieved when the police and communities join forces against crime and criminals. These senseless and callous murders need to come to an end,” he said.
“One of the ways to put a stop to the bloodshed is to put behind bars both the masterminds and the triggermen in these cases ... and those who are still on the run, their days are [numbered].”
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