Teacher 'killed by principal husband' had knife planted in her body to fake suicide: eyewitnesses

Eyewitnesses who saw the lifeless body of school teacher Khanyisile Dhlomo, allegedly killed by her primary school principal husband, claim a knife was planted into her to stage a suicide.

This was contained in an affidavit from eThekwini district task team investigating officer Sgt Sanele Mdima read out in the Durban magistrate's court on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Calvin Govender read Mdima's affidavit during the bail hearing of Khayelihle Dhlomo, 53 who is facing a murder charge.

Khanyisile was found dead on September 14 2022 in their Malvern home, where they lived with their three minor children.

Magistrate Sicelo Zuma heard family members were eyewitnesses who provided statements to the investigator about what they observed when they first saw Khanyisile's body. They later saw the knife, which was often kept under the mattress on Dhlomo's side in the couple's bedroom, had been plunged into her.

Another witness said the crime scene was the couple's bedroom, while Dhlomo told the court his wife was found in the yard.

The court heard there was blood splatter at the corner of the house outside, leading to where the body was found.

“This is to confirm the crime scene was moved from one area to another,” said Mdima.

He said the pathologists who examined Khanyisile’s body found the wounds were not self-inflicted.

Dhlomo was arrested in the iLovu area on the south coast on July 27 after they had been unsuccessful in locating him at his Malvern flat. He was subsequently detained at the Durban Central police station and had no visible injuries.

Dhlomo has argued his ill health qualifies as an exceptional circumstance for him to be released on bail.

Mdima said Dhlomo is likely to be a threat to society.

“The community and the family are angered by these actions. If the accused is killed, the community might want to avenge the death of their loved ones. The only hope and faith they have is in the police system and the justice system not to release him on bail,” he said.

“The crime was premeditated as it was carried out with precision and intent. Dhlomo tried to mislead the investigation."

This was a serious offence which could result in a lengthly term of imprisonment or a life sentence, he said.

“There is a possibility that the accused may evade trial. Since the incident, Dhlomo is not staying at his residence and therefore he does not have a fixed address. This was confirmed by his relatives.”

Dhlomo had already threatened one of the witnesses and claimed he had ties with police officials who had come to the crime scene at the couple’s home and misled the investigation, he said.

Dhlomo’s legal representative, advocate Sicelo Zungu, said his client disputed these allegations.

The court heard during cross-examination the alleged collusion is the subject of an internal police investigation.

The matter was adjourned to September 8 for closing arguments.

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