A man accused of shooting at a private security officer has abandoned his bail application in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court, insisting the weapon used in the incident was a toy gun. Zamokuhle Zungu (38), who has been in custody since 2023, faces a charge of attempted murder but maintains that the firearm he allegedly used was not real. He appeared before Magistrate Sandile Ngwenya last Friday, where he confirmed he would represent himself after declining assistance from Legal Aid South Africa.
During proceedings, he appeared visibly frustrated, shouting, pointing and talking over the magistrate while flailing his arms. The charge relates to an incident in which Zungu allegedly fired at an Mi7 Security officer who had been called to attend to a disturbance. Zungu told the court that he had bought the gun for R1 700 but maintained that it was not a real firearm.
“It is a toy gun. He came to my house to speak to me. He started everything.
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Why am I still in prison?” Zungu asked the magistrate. He also complained about conditions in prison, telling the court there was no food. Magistrate Ngwenya reprimanded Zungu for his conduct in court and warned him that he was close to being held in contempt, adding that further disruptions could lead to additional charges.
“This is not a platform to raise this matter. You must respect the court,” said Ngwenya. The magistrate briefly adjourned proceedings to allow Zungu an opportunity to calm down before asking whether he intended to continue representing himself.
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