Hitman tells court 'ex-cop gave me gun'

Hitman Sabelo Dlamini, who is serving 25 years in jail after pleading guilty to the murder in a separate trial, testified that ex-cop Brian Treasurer handed him the gun, showed him how it works and drove him and a co-accused to the victim's surgery.

He is a co-conspirator witness in the trial of the murder of doctor Bhavish Sewram and was allegedly paid R12 000 for the hit.

Dlamini also involved co-accused Mfaniseni Nxumalo in planning the murder, which took place in May 2013 as Sewram was leaving his surgery.

Dlamini said he met Treasurer with Nxumalo when the latter told Treasurer: "Here is the man [Dlamini] who will do the job."

Treasurer asked Dlamini if he was brave enough, to which he had replied he was. However, he admitted he got a fright when Nxumalo handed a pistol to Treasurer.

Treasurer could see he was nervous and told him to relax and that he would receive the money after the "job" was done.

Just before the assassination, Treasurer dropped off Nxumalo and Dlamini near the surgery.

He had said he did not want to be seen at the scene as his car was well known in the area. They waited near the surgery until they saw Sewram lock up.

Dlamini said he moved close to Sewram's vehicle, keeping his hands in his pockets and hiding the pistol. As the victim got into his vehicle, Dlamini aimed at him and fired twice.

The bangs gave him a huge fright. He saw Nxumalo beckon to him and they ran to a spot where Treasurer picked them up.

Later, Treasurer drove off alone and returned with money.

Treasurer drove Nxumalo and Dlamini to a person who showed them how to get to a traditional healer who would "cleanse" them.

Nxumalo and Treasurer have pleaded not guilty to the charges before Judge Anton van Zijl. The case continues.

(File photo: Gallo Images)