Free State Premier Beatrice Marshoff distanced herself on Tuesday from allegations that the murder of provincial official Noby Ngombane was politically motivated.
Nokwanda Ngombane, speaking at her husband’s funeral on Monday, said the murder was political and that her husband’s enemies were present at the service, held in Bloemfontein.
Marshoff said in an interview with the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s local radio station Lesedi FM on Tuesday that Nokwanda’s views were her own.
Nokwanda said: ”Let us not beat around the bush when it is said that this murder is a mystery whose motives are unclear. We are talking about a political killing.
”One thing I know, his enemies and some of whom are present here today, know very well too, that Noby was absolutely honest.”
Nokwanda also criticised comment in the media on her husband’s character by some people.
She said it was well known that her husband was surrounded by controversy, that he made many enemies and that his style was sometimes abrasive.
”One thing I know, his enemies and some of whom are present here today, know very well too, that Noby was absolutely honest,” she said.
Marshoff broke down during the funeral service and had to be treated by paramedics at one stage.
Hundreds of mourners, friends and colleagues attended the funeral, held at the Central University of Technology’s Boet Troskie Hall in Bloemfontein.
Speaking before Nokwanda on Monday, Marshoff asked for more space for authorities to investigate Ngombane’s death and said it is insensitive to speculate about what had happened.
Ngombane was shot dead outside his home in Bloemfontein last week by as-yet-unidentified gunmen.
He was the head of the Free State government’s monitoring and policy evaluation unit in Marshoff’s office.
Nokwanda is one of Marshoff’s personal assistants. — Sapa