Family of murdered friends heartbroken as suspect applies for bail

Zizipho Gabisa and her friend Anele Mbokazi were found dead at Kenville in August. | Supplied

Zizipho Gabisa and her friend Anele Mbokazi were found dead at Kenville in August. | Supplied

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Durban — The brother of one of the women who was gunned down in August allegedly by friends Lungani Mthethwa and Sandile Chili, said if he could get a chance, he would ask Chili if he would negotiate with the killer of his daughter.

Mthethwa and Chili are charged with robbery and the murders of two friends Anele Mbokazi, 29, who was a nurse at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, and Zizipho Gabisa, 30, who was a pharmacist at a private hospital in uMhlanga.

Chili is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. It is alleged that the quartet met in a traditional ceremony of Chili and after two weeks they all went out on a double date and booked at the Royal Hotel. Chili is reportedly a newlywed.

Mbokazi and Gabisa’s bodies were found on August 25, the day after the double date, with bullet wounds to their heads at Kenville in Durban. The women both lived in Verulam.

Speaking to the Daily News’s sister publication, Sunday Tribune Mbokazi’s brother, Mvuselelo Magwazwa said when Chili applied for bail he said Mthethwa is the one who shot the girls while he went to pee.

He said what is confusing him is that Chili said he was drunk that night and he was scared to confront Mthethwa about the murders.

However, on the following day Chili decided to go and talk to Mthethwa about the murders instead of going to report him to the police.

“If his daughter was to be shot in front of him, would he go and ask the killer what is going to happen with regards to that? Even if they did not plan to shoot and kill the children together, his (Chili) actions are questionable,” he said.

Chili is currently out on R5000 bail and Mthethwa is in custody, he abandoned bail. However, this week Mthethwa told the Durban Magistrate’s Court that he wants to apply for bail. The matter was then postponed to December 18.

Magwaza said as a family they had prepared themselves that Mthethwa might apply for bail.

“It has helped us as a family to anticipate that things might not go the way we want them.

“We are sad that he (Mthethwa) is now applying for bail after what Chili said about him. We thought he was going to plead so that we can all move forward,” he said.

He expressed gratitude to the friends and everybody who comes to court to support both the victims’ families.

The courtroom was packed with women, some of whom were wearing t-shirts with the pictures of the best friends Mbokazi and Ganisa together.

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