The High Court of South Africa in the North West Division, sitting in Ga-Rankuwa, postponed the murder case against Mamokgethe Gertrude Mashimbi (41), Thandi Margaret Khumalo (38), William Maluleka (32), Nicholas Malope (35) and Jan Chauke (28) to 16 January 2024 for further trial.

The five are being charged with the murder of Thomas Mashimbi, a former police officer who was married to Mamokgethe Mashimbi. 

The five are further charged with two counts of conspiracy or incitement to commit murder, housebreaking with intent to kill, murder with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, fraud on accused one only,and perjury on accused one only.

NPA Regional spokesperson Henry Mamothame said that the state called on the investigating officer to give an account of the evidence he gathered, linking the accused to the murder. 

The investigating officer is expected to continue giving evidence and put through cross-examination when the matter resumes next year in January. 

"The state has completed leading its evidence with an expert from the cellphone network provider, demonstrating the link in communication between all accused persons in plotting the murder. The defence attorneys have also completed cross-examining the witness," he said.

Mamothame said that police investigations reveal that between 07- 24, January 2018, Gertrude Mashimbi approached two individuals, now state witnesses and incited them to commit a planned robbery at their marital home in Lebanon near Winterveldt.

"The two then failed to commit to the proposition but reported the matter to the police. She then approached Khumalo who arranged a meeting with the other three accused. Reports reveal that meetings were conducted between 07-24 February 2018, to plot the execution of the plan to murder Mashimbi. On 21 February 2018, Gertrude Mashimbi allegedly ensured that the gates and kitchen door were not properly closed to facilitate entry into the premises. It is further alleged that Gertrude Mashimbi went to the police on 10 November 2017 and complained that her husband was abusing her thus requesting a protection order. The order was granted and Mashimbi's firearm was confiscated as a result, pending the outcome of the SAPS internal process to ascertain his fitness to possess a firearm. The state argued that this was part of the plan to disarm the deceased, to prevent him from defending himself when the attack was executed."

Mamothame further said that it is alleged that on 21 February 2018 Maluleka, Malope, and Chauke entered the house and shot at the deceased, subsequently escaping the scene with two cellphones, a TV set and money estimated at R20 000.

"It is alleged that Gertrude and two of their children were in the house when the plan unfolded, and she was unharmed during the commissioning of the crime. They were all arrested between 18 and 19 September 2019. The five will remain in police custody until the matter is concluded," he said.