The state has opposed a bail application by Manene Khoza, a correctional officer accused of murdering a maintenance officer Bheki Ntjingila from the ministry of public works and transport.
The Crown said Khoza’s release would endanger the public, undermine the justice system and expose witnesses to intimidation.
In an answering affidavit deposed to by Royal Eswatini Police Service, based at Mankayane Police Station Detective Constable Sinikiwe Tfwala, said the offence was committed with extreme violence.
Tfwala told the court that Ntjingila was assaulted to death inside Khoza’s residence while providing professional plumbing services.
She said the Crown’s case was exceptionally strong, as it was supported by a voluntary recorded confession by Khoza as well as medical and eyewitness evidence. “The Crown’s case is exceptionally formidable, as it is anchored by a voluntary recorded confession made by the applicant shortly after his arrest,” Tfwala stated. She further told the court that the postmortem report, attached as ‘Annexure’ ‘A’, revealed injuries that were consistent with the accounts given by Temaphephetse Vilakati, Nompendulo Jele and Nolwazi Nhlabatsi.
When opposing bail, Tfwala said there was a real risk that Khoza would abscond, endanger the public, interfere with witnesses and undermine the criminal justice system if released.
The detective rejected Khoza’s claim that he would plead not guilty, stating that this could not outweigh the evidence against him.
She added that Khoza, as a correctional officer, was fully aware of the consequences of his actions.
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“He knows that despite a not guilty plea, the existence of his confession and the evidence of the sticks and kicks assault make a conviction for murder highly probable,” Tfwala stated.
The State also dismissed Khoza’s claims of being injured during his arrest, saying he never reported any injuries and the allegation was a fabrication intended to gain sympathy.
Tfwala further rejected any suggestion of self-defence, stating that witnesses had pleaded with Khoza to stop assaulting the deceased. She added that the use of sticks and repeated kicks against an unarmed and allegedly intoxicated maintenance officer showed murderous intent, not self-defence.
The detective also warned that the case had gone viral on social media, sparking public outrage. “This digital dissemination has incited members of the public, leading to widespread calls for extra judicial vengeance,” she said, adding that Khoza’s release could trigger mob justice. She also argued that his professional connections within His Majesty’s Correctional Services created a risk of witness interference, as colleagues who assisted him after the incident could be called to testify.
Tfwala dismissed Khoza’s reliance on family responsibilities and possible dismissal from work, saying these were not exceptional circumstances.
She further told the court that being in custody would not prevent him from consulting his lawyers.
The State has therefore asked the High Court to dismiss Khoza’s bail application, insisting that the interests of justice required that he remain in custody.
