Pleading guilty to the murder of Anglo-Zulu war historian David Rattray on Friday, a 23-year-old man said that robbery was the motive for his gang’s invasion of the Rattray property last week.
An unnamed co-accused appeared in the Dundee Magistrate’s Court earlier on Friday.
Accused Fethe Nkwanyana’s ascent from the holding cells into the dock of the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Friday afternoon was met with a barrage camera flashes. He seemed bemused by the activity.
Tall, dark and angular, he wore a red-and black-sleeveless T-shirt.
Counsel appointed for him by the Legal Aid Board, Jan du Plessis, read out his confession and Judge Jan Hugo asked him if the statement was made freely and voluntarily.
Nkwanyana said it was, after which Hugo convicted him of the murder, attempted aggravated robbery of Nomthandazo Zulu and Rattray and unlawful possession of a Norinco pistol and ammunition. Zulu was Rattray’s receptionist.
Hugo adjourned the case to Monday after state advocate Sandesh Sankar told the court that Rattray’s family wants to attend the sentencing.
In his confession, Nkwanyana said that two days before the murder, one Sibonele Mpanza told him that Rattray owed him (Mpanza) money.
”He told me to go with him to rob Rattray. I agreed. Mpanza, Banozi Ndlovu and I went to Rattray’s place to see. Sibonelo did not go right to the place. He hid, and Ndlovu and I went and looked at his place.
”We told Sibonelo what we saw and went home.
”I had a Norinco pistol and Sibonelo a Star 9mm pistol.
”On Friday January 26, six of us went to Rattray’s place — Siphiwe and Banozi Ndlovu, Zwelihle Mtshali, Mtshali and a Ngobese. We were all armed.
”We pointed firearms at the workers and demanded money and the safe keys.
”The workers told us that the money was with Rattray. We drove the workers to the building where he was. Banozi and a woman who worked for Rattray went into the building while the rest of us remained outside.
”I heard the woman calling Rattray, and he apparently went to them. I was not with Banozi at this point. I heard shots.
”Shortly thereafter Banozi came out and said that he had shot Rattray. We ran away.
”I admit that we went there to rob him, my actions were unlawful. I knew it was unlawful to rob. Due to him being shot we left with nothing.
”When we armed ourselves to rob him I foresaw the possibility that someone might be killed and reconciled myself to that possibility.
”I admit that I was not in possession of a valid licence to possess the firearm and the ammunition and I admit that my possession of them was unlawful.”
The indictment says that Rattray (48) and his wife Nicky were in their bedroom and when Nicky saw the gunman she screamed. Rattray pushed her out of the way and advanced upon the gunman who fired three shots at him, hitting in the chest, arm and hand.
Rattray died at the scene of ”haemorrhagic shock due to a gunshot wound in the left chest”.
When Nkwanyana was arrested on January 31 he was found in possession of the Norinco pistol.
At all relevant times he acted in concert with the man who pulled the trigger and other assailants and with a common purpose to commit the murder and to rob, the indictment reads. — Sapa