Plumtree man ‘murdered’ for groping nurse`s buttocks

By Tanaka Mrewa

Two police officers and a nurse from Plumtree’s Tokwana village allegedly fatally assaulted a villager before throwing his body into a nearby dam.

The incident which took place on September 9, started off when the deceased, identified as Gift Dumani, was drinking beer at Makhekhe Bottle Store and he approached one Ellen Mudakuvaka, a nurse, and tapped her buttocks.

An argument ensued between the two before an irate Mudakuvaka reportedly left the bottle store to look for backup.

A source close to the incident who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Mudakuvaka later came back in the company of two police officers.

“Mudakuvaka later showed up at Dumani’s homestead in the company of two cops,” the source said.

“The cops handcuffed Dumani and put him in Mudakuvaka`s car’s boot, they drove off and went to Makhekhe bottle store where they drank for several hours while Dumani was in the boot of their car”.

The source added that the trio was later that evening spotted at Godo dam, claiming that they were trying to locate Dumani who had escaped.

“The trio was spotted at Godo dam that same evening claiming to be looking for Dumani who had escaped. Six days later Dumani’s body was found floating in the dam,” said the source.

According to information received by CITE, Dumani`s body was found with stones in his jack pockets.

“According to the post-mortem results, Dumani’s cause of death was Asphyxia,” said the source.

Contacted for a comment, Mudakuvaka denied any involvement in Dumani`s death.

“I don’t have a comment pertaining to that issue,” she charged.

“You can contact Plumtree district Hospital or the police, besides who gave you my details? Stop calling and bothering me”.

Matabeleland south police spokesperson, Inspector Philisani Ndebele said he could not give a comment on the matter as he was out of office.