Witness identifies man accused of killing senior traffic cop

A KEY witness has identified Philakahle Hloniphani Dladla as the man who hijacked a taxi, robbed passengers at gunpoint, and allegedly shot Senior Superintendent Mariemuthoo Desmond Arumugam multiple times when he stopped to investigate.

The murder trial began at the Durban High Court on Monday with Dladla pleading not guilty to all charges. He is accused of shooting Arumugam, 50, of Tongaat, who was employed at the KwaDukuza Municipality’s traffic department. 

Arumugam was shot multiple times when he stopped to investigate a taxi which stopped in the middle of the road, on the N2 near the Groutville off-ramp, on November 4 last year. 

He was declared dead at the scene. 

Dladla, who was allegedly seated at the front of the taxi - next to the driver,  was traced and arrested in Melmoth on November 11.  A prohibited firearm and ammunition were recovered during his arrest.

At the start of the trial, he pleaded not guilty to all charges which included two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition. 

He said he intended to prove that he was not present at the time. 

Prosecutor Rakesh Singh, said the State intended to prove that Dladla was a passenger in the minibus taxi, and had planned to rob the driver and the passengers of their cash and cellphones. 

Nontokozo Shangase, the first State witness, testified that she had boarded the taxi at the rank in KwaDukuza on November 4, at about 6am. 

She said the taxi was taking passengers to Durban.  Shangase said she sat in the second row and that one person was seated at the front of the taxi. She said once the taxi was full - they left the rank. 

Shangase said the taxi came to a stop at the off-ramp of the Groutville, and the person seated at the front - withdrew a firearm. She said the man knelt on his seat, then turned and faced towards the passengers. Shangase said the man then started to insult them and pointed the firearm. 

“He said we must pass our cellphones and monies. He said if we don’t give our cellphones, he is going to kill us.”

Shangase said she handed over her cellphone which cost about R2 000 and a cash amount of R70.

She said while they were handing over their belongings, a white vehicle arrived and parked on the right side of the taxi. 

She said the taxi driver tried asking for assistance. 

“While the driver was still asking for assistance, the person who pointed at us with the firearm,  then fired shots towards the motor vehicle. When he was firing shots, the driver of the taxi managed to alight from the vehicle and flee.”

Shangase said the man who was seated in the front then started to drive the taxi. 

She said they were taken to an area called Thembeni. 

Shangase said when they arrived, the man told them that items were not equal. 

“He said the people who did not give cellphones and money must give it before he could kill someone. After that, people who did not give, gave it.”

Shangase said after the man got all of the items, he alighted from the taxi and walked away.

“He was not even running.”

Shangase said the passengers thereafter sought  assistance from the community and the police arrived shortly thereafter.  

When asked by Singh to look in the courtroom and tell the court if the person who committed the crime was present, Shangase pointed at Dladla who was seated in the dock and said: “There he is”. 

The trial continues.

THE POST