Muvhango star implicated in murder plot
Goddard Mugwena could have been shot and killed five years ago if the gunman had not felt pity for the baby he was holding in his arms
THOHOYANDOU – A prominent Thohoyandou business-man has survived several attempts on his life instigated by, among others, his ex-wife and a former Muvhango actor.
Five years ago, Goddard Mugwena could have been shot and killed if the gunman had not felt pity for the baby he was holding in his arms.
This was revealed in the Giyani Magistrate’s Court last week Wednesday in a case against seven accused of conspiracy to commit murder.
Mugwena was told by the gunman, whose name can’t be revealed, that the deal to kill him was sealed and the trigger was not pulled because of the baby he was holding as he walked to his car. In the second attempt on his life, a braaivleis was staged at his second wife’s house where Mugwena was offered food which he refused to eat.
The third attempt on his life was when his ex-wife, Doris Mthembi, allegedly hired Moses Ntsenene and Vincent Phakula to kill him as he was watching television on his couch.
This attempt failed as the police entered the house and arrested the two hitmen on the scene. They were armed with pangas, balaclavas, rope, toy guns, box of matches, silo tape and gloves.
They testified that they consumed a lot of alcohol so that they would have been able to execute the job without fear.
Ntsenene and Phakula have already been sentenced to six years’ imprisonment each by Magistrate Johannes Coetzee in the Malamulele Magistrate’s Court in December 2014, with four years suspended for five years.
In prison, the two turned state witnesses where they revealed names of the mastermind in the case, said to be former Muvhango star, Joe Ragwala and Mthembi, James Ragwala (Joe’s father), Joyce Ragwala (sister) and another family member, Tintswalo Mhlari.
The seven are expected to tell the court at the end of November (28, 29, 30) and 1 and 2 December. The case continues.
