Financial difficulties have emerged as the possible motive behind the murder of a popular Zwide doctor, though his ex-wife later claimed to police “anyone” could have done it because he was notorious for sleeping with his patients’ wives.
The former couple’s eldest son, 22, has since told police he became aware of his mother’s alleged plot to kill his father, Dr Bantu Noqekwa, months before the hit was executed on May 3, whereafter she left the city to live in his flat in Cape Town.
As the latest evidence was being led in the New Brighton magistrate’s court on Thursday during Ethel Mphahlwa-Noqekwa’s formal bail application, it emerged that two more suspects had been arrested.
While Noqekwa was being strapped to the examination table at his practice and shot at point-blank range on May 3, Mphahlwa-Noqekwa, who is also a business owner, was at a casino.
The 46-year-old told police when they first questioned her about the murder it could have been “anyone” because Noqekwa was allegedly an adulterer, the court heard.
“The applicant said she is willing to assist us ... she informed us she heard it said the doctor was sleeping with patients’ wives,” investigating officer Sgt Sibulelo Yali said.
The court heard Mphahlwa-Noqekwa, who was wearing the same clothing she wore during her first appearance, had given a full confession to the police — something she now alleges she did because she was being assaulted.
The applicant said she is willing to assist us ... she informed us she heard it said the doctor was sleeping with patients’ wives
— Investigating officer Sgt Sibulelo Yali
She said she was forced to unlock her cellphone for the police to search through it.
Her claims were, however, denied by Yali under cross-examination by defence advocate Bongo Mvinjelwa.
Yali said it was the first time he heard of the allegations.
On Friday last week, Yali narrated the alleged middleman’s version of events.
The unnamed middleman has since turned state witness, while the alleged gunmen, Andile Jongi and Siyabulela Gcayiya, abandoned their bids for bail.
On Thursday it emerged two additional suspects had been arrested, one of whom was expected to appear in court on Friday.
According to Yali, Noqekwa had been attending to patients at his Zwide clinic at about 7pm on the day of the murder.
Witnesses in the waiting room were assured there was no cause for concern, with the alleged killers announcing on their arrival they were “there for the doctor”.
“One of the three men instructed him to lie on his stomach on the examination bed. He was shot once in his head,” Yali said.
Cellphone records placed Mphahlwa-Noqekwa and her alleged accomplices within about 700m of the crime scene.
While at the casino, Mphahlwa-Noqekwa allegedly contacted her son after receiving confirmation from the middleman that the job was done.
The son has not been named as a suspect.
Yali said just hours after the doctor was shot, Mphahlwa-Noqekwa allegedly met the hitmen at KFC on Marine Drive and travelled to a filling station in Forest Hill to withdraw R1,000 from her bank account.
The money was allegedly meant to be used by the men to attend a “cleansing ceremony”.
On Thursday, he said she withdrew an additional R5,000 that same evening but informed the hitmen full payment would not be available immediately.
The court heard previously the alleged murder plot was hatched after a night of gambling and drinking two years ago.
“There was financial motivation behind the crime,” Yali said.
One of the sons was allegedly aware of the plot and Mphahlwa-Noqekwa knew about Noqekwa’s life insurance policies and trust funds.
In a letter, ostensibly drafted by Mphahlwa-Noqekwa, she asked a business owner for a job opportunity and claimed her ex-husband had failed to support his three children.
“I’m hoping you can help me out here,” she wrote. “I’m looking for a job in human resources or a related field ... I have been applying for some time on the internet to no avail ... business is not doing great, clients are unreliable as they drop you at any time.
“I have three mouths — besides my own — to feed, clothe and accommodate ... I am the [sole] breadwinner as my ex-husband doesn’t and has refused to maintain his children for the past three years.”
According to Mphahlwa-Noqekwa’s affidavit, read out in court, the two married in 2001 and divorced in 2012.
The sole director of a small business, she said her further incarceration would cripple her business and future ability to derive an income from it.
“The estimated monthly turnover is about R40,000,” she said. “My children have been taken in by my mother in East London and I am informed that over the last few days the police have visited that address to verify it.”
Should she bail be granted, she could afford R5,000.
In opposing bail, the prosecution said Mphahlwa-Noqekwa was a flight risk, shown through her actions when she “fled” to Cape Town, taking her youngest son, 14, with her.
Her phone was also off and she was not reachable at her home in Lovemore Park.
According to Yali, the youngest son’s school could not reach his mother while they were in Cape Town after he allegedly missed exams.
The bail hearing was postponed to Tuesday for judgment.
Jongi and Gcayiya have also been linked to the murders of three Eastcape Midlands TVET College students, aged between 19 and 23, and their friend Bulumko Ngube.
It is alleged the same weapon used to kill Noqekwa was used to murder Ngube and students Busiwe Notyawe of Coffee Bay, Sesethu Dweba of Lusikisiki and Asanda Ngubo of Komani.
The incident occurred during a house party in Nomjila Street, Kwazakhele, in February.
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