Katlego Moeng
Katlego Moeng
A witness in the murder trial of reggae musician Lucky Dube told the Johannesburg high court yesterday that she did not go to police with information about Dube's death as she feared for her life.
During cross examination, Mpho Maropeng, the wife of Thabo Maropeng, the man who was initially charged with Dube's murder but has since turned state witness, said: "I am telling you what I know and saw."
She said she did not go to the police with the information that her husband told her because she was threatened.
Maropeng was testifying in the case of Sifiso Mhlanga, 32, Julius Gxowa, 30, and Mbuti Mabe, 29, who are accused of killing Dube in Rosettenville, South of Johannesburg, in October 2007.
"I had an argument with Thabo on the morning of October 20 2007. I got so angry with him and Mbuti that I threatened to go to the police with what I know about Lucky Dube's death.
"Thabo took me to the side and told me that if the other two accused knew that I knew about the incident, they would kill me," said Maropeng.
She said that she had earlier asked her husband why he did not go to the police to report the murder and he told her he was scared because the other accused would kill him.
When asked why she had decided to testify against the men, she said: "I believe everyone deserve to go to jail for their crimes."
She said she was giving evidence voluntarily and not because she and Thabo were separating or because she had a fight with her husband the day they were arrested. Maropeng insisted that she was not the one who called the police, though she had threatened to do so.
When Judge Seun Moshidi questioned her on why Thabo had told her what had happened on the night of Dube's death, she said: "I think he was scared. He does not hide anything from me and I did not pressurise him."
The trial continues today with more state witnesses expected to testify. The three accused were remanded in custody.
I feared for my life, says Dube witness
Katlego Moeng
Katlego Moeng
A witness in the murder trial of reggae musician Lucky Dube told the Johannesburg high court yesterday that she did not go to police with information about Dube's death as she feared for her life.
During cross examination, Mpho Maropeng, the wife of Thabo Maropeng, the man who was initially charged with Dube's murder but has since turned state witness, said: "I am telling you what I know and saw."
She said she did not go to the police with the information that her husband told her because she was threatened.
Maropeng was testifying in the case of Sifiso Mhlanga, 32, Julius Gxowa, 30, and Mbuti Mabe, 29, who are accused of killing Dube in Rosettenville, South of Johannesburg, in October 2007.
"I had an argument with Thabo on the morning of October 20 2007. I got so angry with him and Mbuti that I threatened to go to the police with what I know about Lucky Dube's death.
"Thabo took me to the side and told me that if the other two accused knew that I knew about the incident, they would kill me," said Maropeng.
She said that she had earlier asked her husband why he did not go to the police to report the murder and he told her he was scared because the other accused would kill him.
When asked why she had decided to testify against the men, she said: "I believe everyone deserve to go to jail for their crimes."
She said she was giving evidence voluntarily and not because she and Thabo were separating or because she had a fight with her husband the day they were arrested. Maropeng insisted that she was not the one who called the police, though she had threatened to do so.
When Judge Seun Moshidi questioned her on why Thabo had told her what had happened on the night of Dube's death, she said: "I think he was scared. He does not hide anything from me and I did not pressurise him."
The trial continues today with more state witnesses expected to testify. The three accused were remanded in custody.
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