This was revealed by Ike Motloung – lawyer for suspended crime intelligence head Richard Mdluli – during his cross-examination of Ramogibe’s former girlfriend Lerato Sebalo. He said Ramogibe was driving his friend Colonel Nkosana Ximba’s car when he was shot at four times in a botched hijacking in December 1998. He survived the ordeal only to be killed two months later. Ximba is a close associate of Mdluli’s. He is among those who had criminal charges withdrawn against them in February pending the finalisation of this inquest into the death of Ramogibe. Motloung accused Sebalo and her former partner’s family of trying to conceal Ramogibe’s close relationship with Ximba but Sebalo denied this. Motloung said Sebalo had “a very fertile imagination” and was clearly confused. “You’re the one who’s confusing me with your questions,” said Sebalo. Other enemies Ximba’s lawyer Paul Leisher said Sebalo had motive to kill Ramogibe as she was angry over his affair with the mother of Mdluli’s child, Tshidi Buthelezi. She denied having anything to do with his murder although she did say he could have easily had other enemies besides Mdluli. Florina Lephage, niece to Ramogibe’s father, also took the stand and told the court that Ramogibe was staying at her house in Orange Farm with an unidentified woman when police arrived and forcefully took them away. A few days later, Ramogibe was dead, said Lephage. Lephage could not pinpoint exactly when this happened, or even the year that Oupa died, as too much time had passed. She also revealed that an unidentified policeman had coerced her into making the statement last January. The inquest continues. This story was first published by the Mail & Guardian Online on September 7 2012. * Got a tip-off for us about this story? Email [email protected] 
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