A witness who identified a man accused of murdering 13 women and dumping their bodies in sugarcane fields, burst into tears when she explained the modus operandi used by the accused, the Scottburgh High Court heard on Friday.
Thozamile Taki (36) is accused of murdering 13 women in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape in 2007 and dumping their bodies in sugarcane fields and bushes.
He also faces 13 counts of armed robbery.
His accomplice, Hlengiwe Nene, is charged with being an accessory to the 13 counts of armed robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Captain Frederic Munro told the court that one of the witnesses, Nombali Ngcobo had burst into tears when she described to the police in 2007, how her friend Dudu Ntetha was taken from her allegedly by Taki.
”She said they were at a taxi rank in Umzinto when Taki singled out Ntetha and took her away,” Munro said.
”They [Ngcobo and Ntetha] took a taxi and he came back four hours later without her.”
Ntetha’s body was later found decomposed.
Munro said, Linda Ntusi, another witness who also pointed out Taki, had told him that she first saw Taki when he came to her public phone business in Umzinto.
He was with a woman only identified as Dudu.
They left two bags with her, he said.
”She told me that Taki came back three hours later without a woman and he took one bag,” Munro said.
”She told me that Taki had told her that another bag would be fetched by another woman. She said the woman never arrived.”
State prosecutor Noxolo Tokwana on Thursday told the court the evidence showed that Taki promised his victims work in Umzinto.
The victims would need R1Â 500 to pay for accommodation. They would depart their homes to meet a person. They would not be reached on their cellphones after that.
Their bodies would then be found decomposed in sugarcane fields in Umzinto or bushes in the Eastern Cape.
Most of their victims’ cellphones were found in Taki’s house in Chatsworth — or someone who had links with the accused — when he was arrested.
Bank, welfare and clothing account cards belonging to some of the deceased were also found in Taki’s house.
Taki and Nene have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Munro will continue to give evidence when the court resumes after lunch. — Sapa