A taxi boss earning R500,000 monthly faces court in Durban for the attempted murder of senior counsel Coreth Naudé, who was shot while representing SARS in Shauwn Mkhize’s tax inquiry.

Kholwani Prayman Ntanjana, 35, detailed his financial circumstances in his bail affidavit, which was read to the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday. 

Naudé was shot in the neck, face, and shoulder at the Premier Hotel entrance in Umhlanga on July 18, last year. Two armed men ambushed Naudé as she drove into the hotel. Despite being shot multiple times, she managed to drive to the parking lot, where a doctor heard her cries for help.  Naudé survived but required reconstructive surgery on her jaw. 

Ntanjana is the third accused, arrested on September 17. His co-accused, Siyanda Emmanuel Mbulwana and Mcebisi Corlen Runeyi, were arrested in December 2024, refused bail, and indicted at the KwaZulu-Natal High Court.  

Furthermore, it was revealed that detectives were analysing cell phone records that would potentially lead to arrests of two more suspects. 

In his affidavit, Ntanjana stated that he owns property worth R1.5 million at Tasha’s Coastal Estate in Shaka’s Rock. He told the court his businesses generate R500,000 monthly, supporting his wife and five children.

“My incarceration has caused setbacks to my business, with clients threatening to withdraw from agreements,” Ntanjana stated in his affidavit.

The father of five said he does not hold a passport. His assets include the R1.5 million property, cash investments exceeding R500,000 with Old Mutual, and life cover worth over R1 million. 

Ntanjana denies being at the scene when Naudé was shot, claiming he was at home with his wife. “I do not know the identity of Advocate Naudé and have never met her,” Ntanjana stated.

He described the state’s case as “exceptionally weak and non-existent.” 

Ntanjana has no previous convictions but faces a separate pending case for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. 

Meanwhile, at a previous curt appearance, the court found Ntanjana’s bail affidavit vague and insufficient, ordering his legal team – instructed by attorney Sizwe Cele – to file a supplementary affidavit before Thursday. 

Thursday’s proceedings were postponed due to a delayed flight. Later, Cele sent attorney Siya Hlongwane to seek the adjournment. 

“Counsel is not available today because an incident happened to him,” Hlongwane explained.

 Magistrate Quim De Freitas responded: “An incident? That’s so broad. What was it, a car accident, or did his wife cuff him to the house? If you are standing in for Cele, you can’t be that naive.”

Control Prosecutor Seema Reddy described counsel’s absence as a convenient emergency, noting the defence was supposed to appear with the supplementary affidavit. She asked the court to report Cele to the Legal Practitioners’ Council. 

“Cele does not respect the court. Their conduct is unprofessional,” Reddy said. 

The matter was provisionally postponed to the end of October. Ntanjana remains in custody while his co-accused are set to make another appearance at the high court later this month. 

nomonde.zondi@inl.co.za

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