The widow of Elvis Nyathi, the Zimbabwean national who was murdered in Diepsloot, Johannesburg, South Africa in April, has refused to return to the neighbouring country, even as a state witness.
Nyathi’s cousin Mphathisi Ndlovu told Sowetan that Nomsa Tshuma still fears for her life.
Nomsa, who is expected to be a key witness when the matter goes to trial, returned to Zimbabwe for her husband’s burial and has never been to South Africa since.
Ndlovu said the Nyathi family has tried to convince Nomsa to return to South Africa to assist in the case but she has refused. Said Ndlovu:
Even the Zimbabwean government has tried to assure her that they will protect her when she returns to SA but she refuses to change her mind. She is very scared.
It’s understandable because she went through something that has traumatised her and negatively changed her life.
Nyathi was killed in April allegedly by a mob searching for undocumented foreign nationals who they accused of committing crimes in the area.
Nomsa was present on the night the 43-year-old father of her four children was assaulted and torched by the mob.
Seven men were arrested for Nyathi’s murder and are currently out on R3 000 bail each.
They face charges of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, assault with intent to do bodily harm and extortion.
On Thursday, the matter was postponed to 24 August for further investigation.