Lawyers representing Lucky Nkomo, the estranged husband of house music chanteuse Busisiwe “Bucie”, Qwiliso, have detailed how police officers bombed his home, imperilling the lives of his fiancée and their six-month-old baby.
In a notice of intention to institute legal proceedings against the South Africa Police Service, Nkomo’s lawyers, BDK Attorneys, said on Tuesday May 21 last year, at approximately 6pm, Nkomo went to watch a Manchester United football match with his friend, Christopher Johns.
He had received a barrage of WhatsApp messages from unknown people badgering him to withdraw the corruption case he had opened against members of crime intelligence office who kidnapped and extorted him.
Nkomo, they stated, returned to his residence in the evening, where he watched some television while his fiancée, Tshepiso Mabaso, was standing at a counter with their son.
“Given the layout of our -client’s apartment, the passage outside our client’s apartment can be viewed from the living room through a window above the kitchen sink.
“Our client and his fiancée noticed multiple individuals passing by, which was unusual due to the fact that there were no sounds of keys or doors unlocking, as is usually the case when the neighbours pass. Our client and his fiancée heard whispering outside the apartment door when our client realised that he had not locked the front door. Our client jumped up from the couch to go and lock the front door,” reads the letter.
Nkomo, they said, peered through the peephole of the door and saw two unidentified males dressed in all-black clothing, and suddenly gunshots went off. Nkomo immediately instructed his fiancée to seek safety with his son in the bedroom, they stated.
“The unidentified males were attempting to gain entry into our client’s residence, and Nkomo, fearing for his life, ran onto the balcony to jump off the balcony from the third story. Our client injured his shoulder during the fall and rolled underneath a car for safety as he heard some of the unidentified males coming down the stairs.
“It became clear to our client that the sender of the threatening WhatsApp messages and calls was in fact there to harm our client as he did not comply with their demands.
“Our client had his cellphone with him and made a telephone call to Warrant Officer Ramabila to explain what was transpiring, recognising a likely connection between the incident on 30 January 2024 and the incident occurring on 21 May 2024; however, our client’s cellphone battery ultimately died,” reads the letter.
He later decided to crawl out from under the motor vehicle to seek assistance.
“As our client was approaching the gate of the estate, our client spotted a man and called out for help. Unbeknown to our client, the unidentified male that he had approached was part of the unidentified men who were seeking access to his home and pointed his firearm at our client. The male informed our client that he was surprised that our client was not dead.”
Nkomo, they said, was handcuffed by this unidentified male and taken to Douglasdale Police Station.
“Upon arrival at Douglasdale Police Station, our client was charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition,” they said.
“Our client’s residence was completely destroyed and vandalised by the members of the South African Police Service.
“This vandalism, bombing, and gunshots occurred to the point whereby no person can reside in said property due to the damage caused.”
The lawyers said Nkomo was unlawfully detained at Johannesburg Prison for six days.
“The choice to prosecute our client was made in the face of a total lack of evidence and formulated according to a questionable charge,” reads the letter.Police had not responded to our written questions at the time of going to print.
