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King Goodwill Zwelithini’s son died in Johannesburg after an evening allegedly fuelled by alcohol, drugs and sex.
Prince Lethukuthula Zulu, 50, was found dead by security guards at his home in a residential complex at Northwold in Johannesburg on November 6.
Tshefogatso Moremane, 30, Margaret Koaile, 42, Portia Mmola, 28, Gontse Tlhoele, 30 and Dakalo Mbedzi, 32, stand accused of his murder. The cause of his death has not been made public.
The circumstances leading up to his death were laid bare during the bail hearing of his alleged killers in the Randburg magistrate’s court on Thursday. They described an evening of escorts, beers, shooters and cocaine that started in Randburg.
Moremane said in an affidavit read to the court by her lawyer Sibusiso Mkhwanazi that she and some friends met Zulu at News Cafe in Randburg, where she planned to celebrate her birthday.
A waiter arrived at their table with beers, sent according to Moremane, by Zulu and another man.
“I went to join them at the bar. The deceased asked what the occasion was. I told him it was my birthday.” Once their thirst had been quenched, Zulu allegedly suggested that they go to his place to “finish off” the evening’s celebrations.
“We all got into one car and went to the deceased place. There was no electricity … we went to the shop. I entertained the deceased sexually. We went to the bedroom,” read the affidavit.
“The deceased went to the bathroom a lot and he came back with a white powder around his mouth. I suspected he was sniffing drugs … I also noticed that the deceased was asthmatic. I saw an asthma pump.”
Moremane told the court she was a sex worker and intended to plead not guilty. “I strongly believe the court will find me not guilty as I have not committed an offence,” she said.
The man came and he gave the deceased’s friend a black plastic [bag] which I assumed was cocaine.
Portia Mmola
Mmola, whose affidavit was also read out, confirmed that she was with Moremane on the night in question.
“We started drinking shooters,” it read. Mmola said there was not enough money when the bill arrived so she and Zulu’s friend left to get more money.
“The deceased’s friend called someone who sounded Nigerian. The man came and he gave the deceased’s friend a black plastic [bag] which I assumed was cocaine,” Mmola said.
“The deceased’s friend asked where we were going to finish the celebration off. I told him I am an escort and would need money for the services.”
She said when they arrived at Zulu’s apartment, she took his friend to the bedroom and they had sex. “At some stage I was sniffing cocaine with the deceased and his friend.”
Tlhoele also corroborated her story. She also told the court that she was a sex worker.
In his affidavit, Mbedzi said he was a metered taxi driver and intended pleading not guilty.
“I was called by [one of the accused] to pick her up. She sent me the location of the place I was going … The accused are escorts. They usually call me to pick them up. They have my number as they are my customers.”
The court previously heard that the accused are part of a syndicate that allegedly drugged and robbed people. They have also been linked to cases in Benoni and Pretoria.
They allegedly stole a microwave, television sets and cash with a combined value of R30,000 at Zulu’s apartment.
The bail application will continue next Wednesday.
