Nomia Ndlovu’s mother tells court she never felt her life was under threat

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Maria Mushwana, the mother of former police officer accused of the murder of six of her family members, Nomia Ndlovu, has told the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court that she never felt that her life was under any threatened. 

Mushwana, called by the defence, took to the stand on Thursday morning to answer questions about the whereabouts of Ndlovu around the time of Brilliant Mashego’s disappearance in January 2018. Mashego was Ndlovu’s nephew and the son of Nomia’s sister, Audrey Ndlovu, who was also murdered in 2013. 

Mashego disappeared on January 22, 2018 and was later found killed in Bushbuckridge.  

Asked about Ndlovu’s whereabouts on that day, Mushwana said she had not seen her daughter on that day.  

“She (Ndlovu) came back home after she was informed of the death of Brilliant (Mashego).” 

Ndlovu is also accused of ordering a hit on the life of her mother. However, Mushwana says she never felt her life was under threat at any point.  

“I never felt (threatened) … I was never ever threatened by anyone at my place,” says Mushwana. 

Asked about how she felt about allegations of the hit allegedly ordered on life by her daughter, #NomiaNdlvou‘s mother responded, “I never felt (threatened) … I was never ever threatened by anyone at my place.” #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/bOKoXB40xh

— Sipho King K Kekana (@KingKAzania) September 16, 2021

Following Mushwana’s testimony, the court took a five-minute adjournment to allow Ndlovu to say her goodbyes to her mother who is going to be transported back home in Bushbuckridge. 

Nomia Ndlovu | Mother of murder-accused former police officer takes the stand in defence of Ndlovu:

Ndlovu, currently on the stand, is accused of the murders of Witness Madala Homu who was murdered in March 2012, cashing in R131 000 from insurance policies; Audrey Ndlovu killed in 2013 – Ndlovu cashing in R717 000; her boyfriend Morris Mabasa – cashing in R416 000; her niece Zanele Motha who died in June 2016 – cashing in R120 000; her nephew Mayeni Mashaba who died in 2017; as well as Mashego who was murdered in January 2018. 

#NomiaNdlovu, accused of the matter of six of her family members, is back on the stand at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court. She takes to the stand after her mother was earlier was questioned by the defence on, among other things, the alleged hit on her life. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/8BoayLwNZK

— Sipho King K Kekana (@KingKAzania) September 16, 2021

She is currently being questioned about the reasons behind taking so many insurance policies on all these family members. She says she did so to avoid being burdened in the event one of them passed on and having to contribute to their burial as it had been the case before.  

The trial continues.