When the trial into the rape and murder of a 17-year-old continues on Tuesday in the Durban High Court, the State and defence will address the court on the merits of the case ahead of judgment. Picture: Tumi Pakkies/ Independent Newspapers
Durban — A taxi driver accused of raping a 17-year-old girl stood by his version of events on Monday in the Durban High Court despite the State poking holes in it.
Samkelo Victus Dube is on trial for the 2020 murder and rape of Sibahle Faith Biyela. In his not-guilty statement, he explained how he had been taken to Cato Manor by a relative to report Sibahle’s murder.
The taxi driver claims that after a night of drinking with Sibahle and another woman, who is his neighbour, he woke up the next morning to find Sibahle’s bloodied body, following which he left to transport his first load.
He also claims that on that morning, he was robbed and kidnapped by three men who pretended to be passengers and was kept in an unknown location for two days till he managed to escape to his aunt’s house in Umgababa.
Dube’s version of events is that after informing his aunt about the body in his house, a relative took him to Cato Manor SAPS to report it, and from there he was taken to Folweni SAPS.
“You woke up, saw the body with lots of blood on the floor, and yet proceeded to get ready, change clothes, and go to work. Is it normal behaviour? … Could the normal reaction have been to run outside the house screaming or to call the police, would that not have been the normal reaction? What’s the first thing you did in Umgababa, did you tell her (his aunt) about the hijacking and robbery?
“Did you phone your employer saying you were hijacked? At the police station, did you also open a case for your alleged robbery and kidnapping?” asked senior State prosecutor advocate Khatija Essack.
She also put it to the accused that “you have always been interested in Sibahle, making passes at her and when she rejected you, you decided to rape her”.
Dube told the court that he did not get an opportunity to report the hijacking and kidnapping to the police. He reacted the way he did after finding the body because he was scared and in shock, he said, and denied making unreciprocated romantic advances towards Sibahle.
“I would have never raped her or made advances directed at her. I have four children with four different mothers and I was still with all of them. Why would I want to add another woman to my life?” said Dube.
He is also alleged to have assaulted Thandiwe Princess Shange by stabbing her with a screwdriver with the intent of causing her grievous bodily harm.
Previous testimony by Shange was that Dube made advances towards the teen throughout the time they were together, and at some point while she had gone to urinate outside, Dube had peeked at her and made a comment about her underwear.
Dube was the only witness for the defence, which closed its case on Monday.
The trial continues.
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