Getrude Makhafola

Getrude Makhafola

Mbaqanga artist David Masondo was yesterday grilled in Soweto's Protea magistrate's court about the safe-keeping of his guns.

Masondo, 56, lead singer of the Soul Brothers , is facing two counts of assault, three of pointing a firearm at his wife Nomsa and two of failing to lock away his firearms.

In previous testimony, Masondo told the court that he has a 9mm pistol that is kept in a drawer next to the bed and an assault rifle that is stored under the bed.

Masondo, Nomsa and their two children lived together in Mofolo, Soweto, at the time.

He said that Nomsa, to whom he has been married for 17 years, left their marital home about four months ago.

Senior prosecutor Yusuf Baba argued that though Masondo knows the laws and regulations that govern firearms, he left a gun in his the glove compartment of his car on the day he was arrested.

"He locked the gun in the cubbyhole, went into the police station and never informed the police that there was a gun in the car," Baba said.

Masondo's 30-year-old son was also in the car.

Magistrate Phillip Venter asked Masondo whether leaving the gun in the car was legal.

"I was in the company of the police and did not need the gun," Masondo said.

The defence called on Jabulani Twala, who is in charge of security personnel at the Jabulani police station.

Twala said he was on duty on the day Masondo was taken to the police station. Twala said that no one, except the police, is allowed to enter the police station carrying a gun.

In closing argument Masondo's lawyer Victor Mashele, said the state had failed to prove the case of intimidation against Masondo.

The case continues today when Venter will hear arguments from the defence and the state about the old and the new firearm laws.