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ZIWAPHI • VOL 4 NO 14 • 25 June - 8 July 2010

NELSPRUIT

The Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court has gagged James Nkambule, COPE’s chairperson in the Ehlanzeni region in Mpumalanga, instructing him not to speak to the media again.

Nkambule appeared in court on Friday for the fourth time on charges of defeating the ends of justice and conspiracy to commit fraud.

During his last appearance on June 2, he accused premier David Mabuza of being behind high-profile political murders in the province and using state resources to intimidate him.

“He has been instructed by the court not speak to the media anymore because he makes controversial statements. This is now one of his bail conditions and breaking it will land him in trouble,” said a source close to the investigation.

Nkambule was arrested in March this year, just weeks after he released a statement that he said had been made to him by an assassin called “Josh”. In the statement, Josh confesses to being the hit man behind several high-profile murders and attempted murders in Mpumalanga.

Although the police have refused to comment about the case against Nkambule, it is believed they suspect that Nkambule has either fabricated the statement, the existence of a hit list or Josh himself.

Nkambule’s bail of R8 000 was extended until July 8, when his trial is expected to start.

Police officers at the court misled journalists and told them to wait in regional court 1 for Nkambule’s appearance, while his trial date was actually set in a different courtroom.

On Friday, Mabuza’s spokesperson, Mabutho Sithole, insisted that Josh’s existence had been fabricated by Nkambule.

“Josh does not exist. Nkambule was paid by people who want to discredit the premier to create the hit man,” he claimed.

Sithole added that Mabuza would “wait for the trial to see what transpires”.