By Thapelo Molefe
Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, the British citizen of Zimbabwean heritage wanted in connection with the deaths of his wife and two daughters in the United Kingdom, will remain in custody after the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday postponed his firearm case to 22 July.
British prosecutors have authorised three murder charges against Tshuma in connection with the deaths.
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The postponement will allow South African authorities to verify Tshuma’s immigration and legal status in the country and give his legal team time to consult with him before further proceedings.
Tshuma is facing a South African charge of unlawful possession of a firearm after police allegedly found him with the weapon when he was arrested in Kensington, Johannesburg, on Friday.
He was arrested during a joint operation involving the SAPS Interpol National Central Bureau, Crime Intelligence and the Organised Crime Investigation Unit.
Tshuma left the UK through Heathrow Airport on 4 July. The bodies of his wife and two daughters were discovered at the family’s home in Great Denham, Bedfordshire, on 7 July.
During Monday’s brief court appearance, the State asked for the matter to be postponed to establish “the legality of the case before court in South Africa”.
The defence agreed to the postponement and indicated that it would not apply for bail at this stage. The magistrate ordered that Tshuma remain in custody until his next appearance on 22 July.
The extradition process is continuing alongside the firearm case.
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SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that South African authorities had received a provisional extradition request from Interpol Manchester.
“We have received a provisional extradition request from Interpol Manchester through to Interpol Pretoria, which includes the warrant of arrest that has been issued by the UK. But as indicated by the Minister of Justice, we are awaiting a full extradition request, which is expected within a 40-day period,” Mathe said.
She said investigations were also continuing into the firearm allegedly found in Tshuma’s possession.
“We are told that upon arrival in the country, he bought a firearm off the streets of one of the townships in Johannesburg. So we do have a separate investigation that is being conducted by the Gauteng Organised Crime Investigations Unit as well as Crime Intelligence to investigate and trace those that are behind selling Ndodana Tshuma that particular firearm,” Mathe said.
She said preliminary immigration records showed that Tshuma entered South Africa through OR Tambo International Airport on 5 July, before he had been circulated internationally as a wanted person.
His legal status in South Africa is, however, still being verified.
Mathe said investigators tracked Tshuma’s movements through immigration records and visited several addresses, including a hotel in Sandton where he had initially stayed, before locating and arresting him.
She praised the investigating team for tracing and arresting him within days of his arrival.
“If he entered the country on the 5th and already on the 10th he was apprehended and has now appeared before a South African court, it just shows that our teams are really efficient, they are very effective and it demonstrates our capabilities in terms of investigation.”
Mathe said the firearm proceedings could affect the timing of Tshuma’s extradition to the UK.
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South Africa may postpone his surrender while the local criminal proceedings are concluded or while any sentence is served, although extradition arrangements may also allow for a temporary surrender under agreed conditions.
She added that British authorities had commended SAPS for the swift arrest and were cooperating with South African officials by providing the documentation required for the extradition proceedings.
