The Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court has handed down a stern ruling, denying bail to two men accused of orchestrating the murder of world boxing champion Zolani Tete. The court found that releasing Uzuzole Goqwana and Sinebhongo Qase would likely result in them evading trial and interfering with potential witnesses.
Goqwana, 22, and Qase, 28, appeared in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court on Friday, where their desperate bid for freedom was ultimately rejected. They were arrested shortly after the cold-blooded murder of Tete, who was shot dead moments after arriving at his home in NU 17, Mdantsane, on 21 August.
Tete was with his girlfriend, Mbali Mngadi, and three children when they were ambushed by two gunmen. Mngadi sustained three gunshot wounds, was treated in hospital, and has since been discharged to recover at home. Miraculously, the children were not harmed.
Goqwana is identified by the state as the alleged mastermind behind the boxing champion's murder, while Qase allegedly acted as a middleman, organising the alleged hitmen, Siphesihle Kolisa, 28, and Athandwa Gangala, 27. Kolisa and Gangala remain in custody after previously abandoning their own bail applications. The four accused face a battery of serious charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, premeditated murder, and attempted murder.
Delivering the judgment, Magistrate Anton Pretorius indicated that the State had presented a formidable case against the accused. While the court took into account that Goqwana is currently wheelchair-bound following a shooting last July, and that Qase was a first-time offender with a steady job at a Mercedes-Benz plant and a family to support, these factors were outweighed by the gravity of the charges.
Magistrate Pretorius highlighted the volatile situation on the ground. He noted that mob justice is a recurring reality in the Mdantsane area and cautioned that releasing the accused on bail would likely ignite anger among local community members who viewed Tete as a hero.
“The court accepts that [Goqwana] has a medical condition and is paralysed from the waist down. It has been established that the West Bank Correctional Facility is not capable of catering for his medical needs,” said Pretorius.
Addressing the concerns of witness intimidation, the magistrate noted the existence of a fifth suspect who is believed to have fled the province. “The court, therefore, finds a substantial risk of interfering with witnesses or evidence,” Pretorius said.
“The applicants remain innocent. The question of guilt or innocence will ultimately be determined during the trial. I am satisfied that the interest of justice does not permit them to be released on bail. Their applications must therefore fail.”
The court directed that the Department of Correctional Services take immediate, reasonable steps to ensure Goqwana’s specific medical requirements are met, ordering his transfer to a facility like the St Albans Correctional Centre in Gqeberha.
Outside the court, Zolile Tete, the father of the late boxer, expressed a mix of resolve and sorrow. “Whether they get bail or not, this is not going to bring back my son. But I am happy with the court proceedings. The court has really demonstrated that it is on the right track to ensure justice for the killing of my son,” said Zolile.
The case has been postponed to 13 October for further investigations.
