Gabara family fuming after yet another postponement

The family of the police officer who allegedly survived a plot by his wife to get him killed over a maintenance dispute said they were not happy with the apparent delaying tactics used at the Sibasa Regional Court to finalise the matter.

Elelwani Jane Nedzamba (37), from Tshififi village in Limpopo, was arrested by members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team on Wednesday, 24 February 2021, after she had allegedly plotted with hitmen to kill Sgt Jutas Gabara (47), a police officer stationed at the Makhado Dog Unit, with whom she shares a son. At the time, the Hawks received a tip-off about the plot to assassinate Gabara and they kept Nedzamba under close observation, which ultimately led to her arrest. Nedzamba has appeared in court on several occasions since.

Her long-delayed trial was to resume at the Sibasa Regional Court from 6 to 9 November. When Nedzamba did not show up in court on Monday, her new lawyer claimed that he had no idea where she was. A warrant for her arrest was issued, which was withdrawn after she apparently showed up the next day (Tuesday). But, as during all previous appearances, the case was postponed once again, this time to 29 to 30 April 2024.

This, however, did not sit well with the family of the targeted policeman. Gabara’s younger brother, Mr Nthambeleni Gabara, fumed at the latest development. “As a family we feel we are being taken for a ride. In March this year, when they postponed it to September, they claimed that they wanted the new prosecutor and Nedzamba’s Legal Aid lawyer to familiarise themselves with the case. But on Monday, Nedzamba pulled a no-show. The police never arrested her after the warrant for arrest was issued, and on Tuesday she arrived in court very late. Then, after conversations with the court officials, the warrant of arrest was withdrawn and the case postponed to April 2024,” he said.

Date:16 November 2023

By: Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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