Nkabine Enquiry hears details of 2008 Kwa-Maphumulo taxi murders

File image | Taxis seen parked at a taxi rank.

Former North West Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Sello Maema, has dismissed the police’s account of their role in the 2008 murders of members of the Kwa-Maphumulo Taxi Association in KwaZulu-Natal.

Maema has told the Nkabine Enquiry in Pretoria that cartridges and firearms discovered next to the deceased at various crime scenes did not correspond with ballistic test results.

He also says that most of the victims were cornered and shot from behind while lying down. This contradicted the police’s version that the victims posed a threat to officers’ lives.

The enquiry is probing the fitness of suspended South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Andrew Chauke, to hold office.

Maema, the third witness to appear, was a lead prosecutor in the racketeering case against former KZN Hawks head Johan Booysen.

Maema alleges that despite the gravity of allegations against members of the Cato Manor Police Unit, Booysen lied under oath, leading to the withdrawal of charges.

“On the 18th of September 2008 the deceased were found lying in a house at Mandini after they were shot by the accused. It is alleged that the accused, Stoltz and Mostert, accused 4 discharged their firearms in self defence against the purported attack launched by the deceased. The scene reconstruction indicates that they were shot whilst lying down. The firearms that were found placed close to their bodies could not match the cartridges on the scene. Firearms were at the scene to create the impression that the deceased were posing a threat to their lives.”