Judgement for the bail application of Sibusiso Kula an ANC MP who is accused of murdering his wife Jennifer Mothlomi -Kula has been reserved. Kula appeared at the Orkney Magistrate court in Klerksdorp on Friday and this was his second appearance after his arrest on January 20th. After his affidavit was read to the court he was given an opportunity to take the witness stand and testify about the nature of the relationship he had with his wife.

I PICKED HER OUT OF MANY

Kula told the court that he met the deceased in 2010 and courted her for 9 months before they  started dating on the 12 of  December the same year. "I shared a bed with her for over a decade, out of all the girls I've dated she stood out and I loved her dearly. To be honest there were a lot of fights between us but when we looked back we realised that these fights needed to end. So we spoke and asked for the intervention of our families and Pastors because we wanted our marriage to work." He said.

DESPITE THE FIGHTS THEY WERE HAPPY

Kula told the court that prior to his wife's murder they were very happy and had been seen together displaying their affection in public. "We were attending the funeral of a comrade in Kanana, our hometown. We spent time together and she took photos of us which she posted on social media. This was on the 19 November," he said. He added that they were happy up until the day he came home to find his wife stabbed. 

"On the 26th of November I came home in the early hours of the morning because I had been attending a death anniversary of our friend who died in 2021, we had no fights about it because she knew where I was going. Earlier on that morning she sang me a love song and danced. I filmed her and the police had that video which shows that we were happy," said Kula. 

NOT HOME

Kula told the court that on the 27th of November the day his wife died he had a meeting with ANC officials prior to the Nasrec conference, in the afternoon and informed his wife about it. "I had left the house to meet with comrades over a few drinks discussing politics. Around 4pm I went back home and found my wife doing house chores. I told her I'd be going out again to continue with the meeting and she had no problem because she understood politics and was also a member of the ANC." He said before he left he kissed her and one thing led to another and they had a moment of passion. 

" After we made love I left and went back to where we had the meeting. I only returned home around 9pm. To my shock I found my wife bleeding through her nose and ears. She was standing and I carried her and took her to the garage where the car was parked. I rushed her to the clinic and a few minutes after 10pm I was told that she was dead."

POLICE HARASSMENT

Kula told the court that when the police arrived at his house, they had concluded that he had killed his wife. "They questioned me until 3am in the morning. The next day when I came back from identifying my wife's body the police questioned me against for 8 hours trying to force me to confess to the murder. I asked them to give me space to bury my wife before we proceed with their investigations. 

He added:"The police did ask me about our fights and I confirmed that at some point she had a protection order against me. It was opened in 2016 and since then there was never a report that I violated the protection order." 

CLEARING HIS NAME

"There's nothing that I want more than to clear my name, not in my interests but that of my kids who believe in me. To my kids I'm a hero even though nobody else believes in me," he said. Kula also told the court that as a Member of Parliament and a lawmaker he is passionate about issues of Femicide and GBV and so was his wife hence the post she wrote on Facebook about GBV. "Some people are treating this like a political matter and want to sabotage me. They are ignoring the big problem of Femicide we have in the country. Those who believe I am guilty should allow the process of the court to take place. As a law maker I am duty bound that I should be exemplary and abide by the laws of the country,"he said.

The matter has been reserved for judgement on the 31st of January.