The fact that Ntuthuko Shoba lost his job at the JSE cannot be compared to the pain and suffering Tshegofatso Pule’s family members have been through, her cousin said on Monday.
“We are not worried or shaken by the fact that Shoba is worried about losing his job. What about the three lives that were lost? Pule was pregnant at the time she was murdered and WhatsApp messages read out in court revealed she had an abortion,” Botlhale Modisane told Sunday Times Daily.
“There is a huge level of disregard and they don’t consider what we as a family are going through.”
The JSE confirmed last week that Shoba, who worked there as an analyst, had been fired.
“The JSE has assisted the police in their investigation and it will continue to fully co-operate with the investigative authorities if and when required to do so,” the JSE said. .
During arguments in the packed courtroom, Shoba’s lawyer Shaddy Sithole on Monday said Shoba was dismissed due to the “incapacity charges” brought against him.
He said should Shoba be released on bail, he would be able to appeal his dismissal.
Shoba suffers from prejudice and his dismissal was proof of that, Sithole said.
He told the court Shoba was “emotionally attached” to his family and looked after his grandmother.
Sithole argued that the state was selective about information shared in court, including the WhatsApp messages shared between Shoba and Pule.
He said the state’s selective conduct was damaging towards Shoba’s image and the perception of the public.
The state painted a picture that he and Pule were unhappy in their relationship, he said.
He said this also motivated the public to protest against Shoba’s release on bail.
Sithole argued that Shoba had willingly assisted police to track down Muzikayise Malephane, who entered into a plea agreement with the state. Now serving a 20-year prison term, Malephane alleged he was hired to kill Pule because Shoba feared his wife would find out about her pregnancy.
Sithole said Shoba accompanied Pule outside his unit at the complex knowing there were cameras on the premises.
Shortly after Pule’s disappearance, Shoba rushed to the Florida police station to assist her family in reporting her missing, Sithole said.
Shoba also advised crime officers at the station to accompany him to his complex to review CCTV footage because there was a possibility “it could be automatically deleted”.
Sithole argued that Shoba alerted the police to the footage before they knew it existed.
“It was the applicant’s [Shoba] conduct and initiatives that guided Florida police and alerted them to the CCTV footage from the word go.
“It is clear the applicant’s conduct assisted the police in their investigation. His conduct shows he did not tamper with such evidence.
“It is exceptional that he alerted the police to the footage in his complex,” Sithole said.
He said an unregistered sim card which the state claimed Shoba had used to contact Malephane was never found in his possession.
State prosecutor Paseka Temeki said it was false that Shoba assisted the police to catch Malephane.
“He played no part in doing so.”
Temeki told the defence that they were not selective when revealing WhatsApp messages between Shoba and Pule and warned that the defence did not want the court to hear all the messages because they were “very explosive”.
Modisane said the family felt it was “well represented” by the state and believed Shoba would not be granted bail.
Judgment in the bail bid was reserved. The case is expected to return to court on May 7.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.