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Ex-mayor in court on murder attempt rap

FORMER eNdumeni municipality mayor Thandeka Nukani will remain in custody until next Wednesday when her bail application will be heard.

Nukani appeared briefly in a packed Utrecht magistrate's court yesterday on a charge of attempted murder.

She was arrested on Monday on allegations that she bribed an inmate at Waterval Prison to kill her nephew, Siyabonga Nukani, who is serving 20 years for his role in the murder of ANC councillor, trade unionist and SACP member Grishen Bujram in 2007.

According to the charge sheet, Nukani and her driver, Bonginkosi Khumalo, colluded and hired an inmate to kill Siyabonga, the main witness in a murder case against her.

The inmate demanded R5000 to murder Siyabonga and, according to the investigators, was paid R2500 upfront, which was deposited in his bank account.

It is believed that Thandeka Nukani wanted her nephew "silenced" because he was going to testify against her in the Bujram murder trial on October 22. This is after she was formally charged two weeks ago for the 2007 murder.

She was initially arrested with her boyfriend, Bongani Shangase, and Siyabonga. Charges were later withdrawn against her after the two men were found guilty in 2008.

Shangase was jailed for life in December.

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