A confession made by Marike de Klerk’s alleged killer Luyanda Mboniswa accused the former first lady’s dance teacher John Thebus of her murder, the Cape High Court heard on Monday.
The confession was admitted as evidence in Mboniswa’s Cape High Court trial, He has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, rape and robbery.
In the confession, Mboniswa (21) of Khayelitsha, claimed he met Thebus at a garage near the Dolphin Beach complex in Table View on the Friday preceding De Klerk’s death.
Mboniswa claimed in the confession that he asked Thebus for a lift to the complex, and that Thebus then asked Mboniswa if he was interested in his (Thebus’) car.
Mboniswa said Thebus offered him the car for R20 000 but suggested that they make a deal. In the deal, Mboniswa had to arrange access to the complex for Thebus late at night without any of Mboniswa’s fellow security colleagues seeing Thebus on the premises.
Mboniswa claimed that Thebus told him there was a lot of money that he was going to get inside the complex, as well as a new car. Thebus planned also to steal a Nobel Peace Prize trophy, and when Mboniswa asked from whom he intended stealing this, Thebus named De Klerk.
Mboniswa in the confession said he went to the Dolphin Beach complex that Sunday night with his girlfriend’s brother. On his way there he noticed Thebus’ car parked next to toilets at the complex.
Mboniswa claimed that he and Thebus approached the complex but managed to avoid the security cameras.
At the complex near the section where De Klerk’s flat was situated, Thebus told Mboniswa that there was a sliding door which De Klerk had not locked properly.
Mboniswa said that with the use of his cellphone he ensured that there were no security staff patrolling in the vicinity.
Mboniswa said he lifted Thebus onto the balcony and Thebus then hauled him up onto the balcony.
De Klerk’s flat was in darkness except for a light in her bedroom.
Mboniswa said Thebus took off his shoes and put on yellow plastic gloves. He also had a knife in his pocket, Mboniswa said in his confession.
Mboniswa said De Klerk became suspicious and got up to investigate when Thebus pushed open the sliding door.
Mboniswa alleged that Thebus stabbed De Klerk when she opened the curtain at the sliding door to see what was happening. De Klerk ran away but fell. Thebus sat on top of De Klerk’s stomach and throttled her, and he (Mboniswa) helped Thebus by holding De Klerk’s legs.
De Klerk was kicking her legs but after a while they became lame. She was gasping and blood from her mouth splattered on his shirt.
Mboniswa said he then closed the sliding door and spotted De Klerk’s cellphone which he took for himself. He said that while Thebus was looking for money, he told Mboniswa to look for De Klerk’s car keys as Thebus planned to escape in the car.
Mboniswa said Thebus removed two torches from a drawer in De Klerk’s room and gave one to Mboniswa. Thebus also gave Mboniswa R400.
They were unable to find the keys to De Klerk’s car and on their way out of the flat they locked the door so no one could gain access.
Mboniswa said they were unable to get into De Klerk’s car as it was locked and they left the complex together through bushes.
Mboniswa added in his confession: ”I told Thebus the deal had failed because we had a corpse, we had killed her, but we got no money nor her car.”
The hearing continues. – Sapa