Frank Maponya

Samuel Mukansi, co-accused in the killing of a top Limpopo legislature official and a popular pastor, yesterday confessed to the cold-blooded murder.

Mukansi, 32, told the Polokwane magistrates' court he murdered Musa Maluleke, 36, on instruction of Brian Rikhotso, a popular Munghana Lonene FM DJ.

Rikhotso, he claimed, had promised to pay him R10000 for the murder.

Mukansi and Rikhotso are facing charges of killing Maluleke in his Polokwane home a fortnight ago.

They were arrested a few days later.

Mukansi told the court Rikhotso had arrived at the house soon after he had shot Maluleke once.

Realising Maluleke was still alive, Rikhotso grabbed the firearm from him and personally shot Maluleke twice to ensure he was dead, Makunsi told a shocked courtroom.

Maluleke, who was shot at point-blank range, was then buried in a shallow grave in Thokgwaneng village by the two men.

Mukansi also claimed investigating officers had assaulted him and forced him to implicate Rikhotso in the murder.

Police believe Maluleke was kidnapped from his recording studio before being murdered, said spokesman Superintendent Mohale Ramatseba.

The alarm was raised the following day when he failed to turn up at the legislature for an important meeting with colleagues.

Ramatseba said police were investigating whether the murder was linked to a business dispute within the fiercely competitive music industry in the province.

Maluleke ran one of Polokwane's largest music recording studios.

The matter was adjourned to tomorrow for a bail application.