Durban — The alleged hitmen that almost assassinated South Africa Revenue Services (SARS) forensic investigator Advocate Coreth Naude in Durban were ‘imported’ from Cape Town.
This emerged in Durban Magistrate’s Court, on Monday, when the two suspected hitmen gave their physical addresses. Accused number one, Siyanda Emmanuel Mbulwana, 29, lives in Bellview Estate while his counterpart Mcebisi Runeyi, 28, is from Portland, Cape Town. The state had to find a Xhosa language interpreter for the suspects.
The two were arrested in Cape Town and charged for attempting to kill Naude in July. They were remanded in custody for identity parade and would be back in court on Monday for formal bail hearing.
Police described their arrest as a major breakthrough. On the day, Advocate Naude was driving into the Premier Hotel in Durban when she was ambushed by two armed men who opened fire at her. The Advocate managed to drive inside the hotel where she received emergency medical attention before she was rushed to hospital. The suspects fled from the scene in a silver Toyota Corolla and the case was assigned to the Provincial Serious and Violent Crime: Murder and Robbery Unit which police said hit the ground running in search of clues and possible leads.
Police said their investigations led them to the Western Cape Province where they found the two suspects. It looks like they were hiding as they were found in Mitchells Plain and Milnerton respectively.
At the time of the attempt on her life, Naude was investigating the alleged tax evasion case against top provincial businesswoman Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize. A few weeks ago the National Prosecuting Authority's Assets Forfeiture Unit pounced on her posh properties and attached several assets including expensive cars which were seen being towed away.
The attack on Naude was described by SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter as an attempt to intimidate SARS officers to abandon the vital work they were performing.
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