Staff Reporter.
The man accused of masterminding Tshegofatso Pule’s murder has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.
It was Ntuthuko Shoba’s first day of trial in the Johannesburg High Court.
Pule’s family packed the court on Monday for the start of their long-awaited quest for justice.
The family wore white T-shirts with the words “RIP Patrick Shai” in commemoration of the actor who died at the weekend. Shai, who supported the family and attended previous court proceedings, died at the weekend.
Pule’s body was found hanging from a tree in Roodepoort in June 2020. She was eight months pregnant at the time, and it is believed that Shoba was the unborn child’s father.
At the time of her disappearance, her family told media that the 28-year-old beautician had gone to visit Shoba – who they described as her boyfriend – because they were going to buy clothes for the child.
Proceedings were off to a slow start with Judge Stuart Wilson insisting on a limited number of people in the court room due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Once the session started, State attorney Faghre Mohmed read the charges to Shoba.
He has been charged with murder, an alternative charge of conspiracy to commit murder and defeating the ends of justice for not telling police the truth.
Shoba has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Pule’s friend Tshepiso Tsita was the first witness to take the stand.
Tsita and Pule were childhood friends who lived within walking distance of each other. So close were the two that Pule would share the messages between herself and Shoba with Tsita, and Shoba would also use Tsita’s number to send Pule cash.
Tsita recalled how, among other things, Pule shared with her some disturbing messages she received.
“Pule started getting threatening messages from a woman; threats that she [the woman] would come to her workplace. The threats were that she should leave [this woman’s] man alone. She said she would come to her workplace and deal with her. She said she is HIV positive and that Pule must go get tested.
Under cross-examination, Tsita said Pule had also confronted Shoba about the threats against her and he expressed “shock and asked for that number”
She has told the court that Pule was in a relationship with Shoba,disputing that Pule had any relationship with convicted killer Muzikayise Malephane.
Malephane has confessed to killing Pule and is already serving a 20-year sentence.
He too will take the stand on Monday to testify against Shoba.
She has completed her testimony and a new state witness is expected to be called to the stand on Tuesday.