Tshegoftso Pule murder: ‘Mastermind’ Ntuthuko Shoba pleads not guilty

Ntuthuko Shoba, the man accused of being the mastermind behind the murder of Tshegofatso Pule, pleaded not guilty in the Johannesburg High Court on Monday, 24 January.

SHOBA PLEADS NOT GUILTY

Shoba is charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder and defeating the ends of justice in connection with the alleged murder of Pule.

The accused was arrested on 18 February 2021, a day after Muzikayise Malephane was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for Pule’s murder. The hitman implicated Shoba in the killing and turned State witness after entering a plea and sentence agreement.

It is alleged that Shoba paid Malephane R70 000 to kill Pule – whom he was involved with romantically – in order to prevent his wife from finding out about her pregnancy.

Pule’s body was found dangling from a tree in Roodepoort in June 2020. She was eight months pregnant at the time of her death and the accused is believed to be the father.

In court on Monday, Shoba pled not guilty to the charges against him but made a number of admissions.

“Amongst admissions made by Shoba were that the vehicle tracking report from Cartrack was true and correct and that the cellular mapping done by Cyber Crime and Deep Web investigator, Warrant Officer Andries Van Tonder was true and correct,” said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane.

Senior Advocate Faghre Mohammed opened the State’s case with a testimony from a friend of the deceased.

The witness told the court what kind of person Shoba is and what she knew about Pule’s relationship with him.

The trial continues.