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Court told how trio robbed banyana star

IN THE DOCK: Khumbulani Magagula, Johannes Mahlangu and Themba Mvubu in the Delmas circuit court in Mpumalanga yesterday for the murder of former Banya Banyana star Eudy Simelane. Pic: Vathiswa Ruselo. Circa. © Sowetan.
IN THE DOCK: Khumbulani Magagula, Johannes Mahlangu and Themba Mvubu in the Delmas circuit court in Mpumalanga yesterday for the murder of former Banya Banyana star Eudy Simelane. Pic: Vathiswa Ruselo. Circa. © Sowetan.

THREE witnesses have described how they saw Themba Mvubu robbing and dragging Banyana Banyana star Eudy Simelane just before she was murdered.

Mvubu is appearing with Khumbulani Magagula and Johannes Mahlangu in the Delmas circuit court charged with the murder, rape and robbery of Simelane.

They have pleaded not guilty.

On Wednesday key state witness Thato Mphiti, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to an effective 32 years, stunned the court by contradicting four previous statements.

Mphiti said none of the three suspects had touched Simelame. He explained the dramatic turnaround by saying he had found God.

The 16-year-old brother of one of the trio, who cannot be identified because of his age, said yesterday that he, Magagula and Mahlangu had encountered Mvubu and Mphiti in the act of robbing Simelane.

"Themba and Thato were grabbing Eudy and we left as they were dragging her away," he said.

He said Mphiti had stabbed Magagula in the hand when he tried to reprimand him and Mvubu had taken Simelane's sneakers.

"I saw Mvubu in the morning and he was wearing Eudy's black-and-white sneakers.

"We did not talk about the robbery," the 16-year-old said.

Tshepo Pitshe, who was accompanying Simelane from a tavern, said Mvubu held her while Mphiti searched her.

"I asked Themba what he was doing because I knew him," Pitshe testified.

Nkosinathi Gwebu, who was also with Simelane, said Mvubu and Mphiti stopped them and demanded money and cellphones.

The two pulled Simelane around and threatened him when he tried to intervene.

"They said they would kill us if we interfered."

Mphiti and Mvubu took Simelane's cellphone and her sneakers, he said.

Gwebu said he and their other friends fled after getting into a fight with Magagula.

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