Siblings kill granny Jubilant Ndlovu and Priviledge Ncube
Jubilant Ndlovu and Priviledge Ncube

Jubilant Ndlovu and Priviledge Ncube

Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
A PLUMTREE man and his sister allegedly strangled their grandmother before fatally hitting her with a knobkerrie on the head after accusing her of witchcraft, a Bulawayo High Court judge heard.

After the gruesome murder, the two siblings reported the death to the police as a case of sudden death.

Jubilant Ndlovu, 23, and Privilege, 27, both of Mlomwe village appeared before Justice Maxwell Takuva facing murder charges in connection with the death of their granny, Thoko Ncube, 62, seven months ago.

Prosecuting, Sifiso Ndlovu said on March 1 this year shortly after 6AM, the two siblings hatched a plan to kill their grandmother on allegations that she was bewitching them.

The court heard that Jubilant and Privilege went to Ncube’s homestead in the company of their 15-year-old niece.

“On arrival at Ncube’s home, they found the old woman cuddling her two-year-old granddaughter. They exchanged greetings after which Jubilant sprang from his chair and strangled his grandmother,” said Ndlovu.

Privilege then joined her brother and pinned down the old woman. Jubilant then took a knobkerrie and struck his grandmother three times on the head as she lay helplessly on the floor. Ncube collapsed and died on the spot.

Soon after committing the crime, the pair covered her body with a blanket and went to a police station where they reported the case as sudden death, the court heard.

Privilege pleaded guilty while her brother admitted killing her grandmother, but said he did not do it intentionally as he was under the influence of dagga.

In his defence through his lawyer, Farai Museta of Ndove, Museta and Partners, Jubilant said he was under the influence of mbanje when he committed the crime.

He told the court that he was approached by his sister who suggested that they should kill their granny for witchcraft.

“My sister (Privilege) approached me and suggested that we should kill our grandmother. She asked me to accompany her to our granny’s home. When we arrived at her home, I throttled her until she became weak as my sister held her legs and hands, pinning her down. Privilege instigated me to finish her off with a knobkerrie and I did that,” said Jubilant.

He, however, argued that he was not in control of his actions, claiming he was intoxicated after smoking dagga.

Privilege, who is being represented by Pasipanodya Mukono of Danziger and Partners, in her defence denied that she engaged her brother to kill their grandmother.

“On that particular day, I woke up early in the morning and proceeded to a funeral where I spent the whole day.

“I only went back home in the evening and later proceeded to my grandmother’s home at around 7PM to check on her since she was not feeling well,” said Privilege.

She said on arrival, she found Ncube preparing supper.

“Jubilant later arrived with my niece and minutes later he jumped onto our grandmother and strangled her. He went on to strike her with a knobkerrie and I was so frightened such that I had to storm out of the hut and fled,” she said.

Privilege said when she returned she found her granny’s lifeless body lying on the floor.

She said she did not report the matter to anyone as she was afraid to expose her brother.

The trial continues today.

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