In a chilling murder case that has gripped the nation, Mamokgethe Mashimbi and her four co-accused, Thandi Khumalo, William Maluleka, Nicholas Malope, and Jan Chauke, have appeared before the High Court of South Africa, North West Division, sitting in Ga-Rankuwa. They stand accused of orchestrating the murder of Mamokgethe's husband, Thomas Mashimbi, a former police officer.
This case has seen a series of shocking revelations. The charges laid against the defendants include two counts of conspiracy or incitement to commit murder, housebreaking with intent to kill, murder with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, fraud (against Mamokgethe Mashimbi only), and perjury (against Mamokgethe Mashimbi only).
The trial took a significant turn when the state called upon the investigating officer to provide a detailed account of the evidence linking the accused to the gruesome murder. The officer's testimony shed light on the sinister plot that unfolded. It was revealed that in early 2018, Mamokgethe Mashimbi approached two individuals intending to incite them to commit a planned robbery at her marital home in Lebanon, near Winterveldt.
However, these individuals decided against carrying out the crime and, instead, reported it to the police. Undeterred, Mamokgethe Mashimbi then approached Thandi Margaret Khumalo, who played a crucial role in arranging a meeting with the three other accused individuals. A series of meetings took place between February 7 and February 24, 2018, during which the plan to murder Thomas Mashimbi was allegedly meticulously plotted.
On February 21, 2018, it was alleged that Mamokgethe Mashimbi ensured that the gates and the kitchen door of her home were left unsecured, facilitating the perpetrators' entry into the premises. In a twist, it was also revealed that Mamokgethe Mashimbi had previously sought help from the police on November 10, 2017, claiming that her husband had been abusive.
This led to the granting of a protection order against Thomas Mashimbi and the confiscation of his firearm, pending an internal investigation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) to determine his fitness to possess a firearm. The state argues that this was a calculated move to disarm the victim, rendering him defenceless when the attack occurred.
The tragic event unfolded on February 21, 2018, when William Maluleka, Nicholas Malope, and Jan Chauke allegedly entered the house, fatally shooting Thomas Mashimbi. They also made off with two cellphones, a TV set, and an estimated R20,000 in cash. Mamokgethe Mashimbi and two of their children were reportedly present in the house at the time, with Mamokgethe emerging from the incident unharmed.
The accused individuals were apprehended between September 18 and 19, 2019. The trial has seen the state present evidence, including testimony from an expert representing a cellphone network provider, which demonstrated the communication links between all the accused parties in plotting the murder. As the case unfolds, it was announced that the trial has been postponed until January 16, 2024, for further proceedings.
Until that time, Mamokgethe Gertrude Mashimbi, Thandi Margaret Khumalo, William Maluleka, Nicholas Malope, and Jan Chauke will remain in police custody. This shocking case has continued to captivate the nation's attention, and the trial is expected to reveal even more unsettling details as it progresses.
