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SAPS informer describes a 2009 plot to recruit soldiers from Burundi to destabilise KZN province by burning down schools and hospitals… during his bail application in Pinetown regional court.

2010-08-06 - Durban – A bizarre plot has come to light in the Pinetown Regional Court on Friday – with SIZWE MKHIZWE, a self-admitted SAPS informer, describing a plot to ‘recruit soldiers from Burundi to destabilise KZN province’ by terror and by burning down schools and hospitals.

Other revelations: an “amputated hand” was going to be used to assassinate KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize. Advocate Mluleki Chiti made these claims, speaking as the legal counsel representing two of five people accused of plotting to kill Mkhize. They allegedly would be paid R1million to carry out these plans.

Chiti, representing Themba Xaba and Sizwe Mkhize (no relation to premier Zweli Mkhize), did not explain how the limb would be used in the murder and whose limb it may have been. It is however common knowledge that body parts are sometimes used as muti when people commit crime.

He said the State allegedly is also investigating Sizwe Mkhize for ‘trying to recruit soldiers from Burundi to destabilise the province of KZN’ - something which was denied by the SAPS investigator in the case.

Chiti claimed that the “body part “was found at Mkhize’s flat in Durban a day before he was arrested with Xaba, Jackson Chili, Mlungisi Xulu, and Sthembiso Mthembu as they were allegedly on their way to kill the premier.

Chiti said “police took the hand, and that Mkhize was not arrested on that day because he explained to police it was going to be used by "certain people" plotting to kill the premier. “

However the five accused men claim that other people had hatched the plan – and that they were merely ordered to carry it out. They were afraid to divulge the names of these alleged plotters during their bail application hearing, which was expected to be concluded next Tuesday.

Investigating officer Sbusiso Zungu commented when he was questioned about the claims, that “something was taken from Mkhize’s flat, but said it was not a human body part.”

The court heard details of how Advocate Chiti’s clients “had told the SAPS about the people who were involved in the plot as far back as 2009. Mkhize last month told the court he was a police spy, a claim dismissed by police, who said he was “not on the register of informers.” The court on Friday heard it was unclear whether Sizwe Mkhize was investigated for allegedly trying to recruit soldiers from Burundi to destabilise the province.

Investigating officer Sbusiso Zungu said that he ‘was not sure whether there is any investigation with regards to that (Burundi) matter."

The five accused men face charges of possession of illegal firearms and ammunition and conspiracy to commit murder. – SAPA http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Amputated-hand-in-Mkhize-plot-20100806