Mr Mkhize was a well respected gentleman in the area of kwaNongoma, revered for his astute business acumen. MaNgidi, his wife, was known as a serpent because of her behaviour. The couple had two sons, Zola and Zuki, whilst Zamani, who was born from an extramarital affair, was Mkhize’s last born.

Mkhize had five businesses in total, trading in different sectors. He owned two high-end cars, (the likes of which were likely to be driven by real moguls), a livestock farm filled with cattle and goats, and lots of money in his money-market account. He had a good relationship with his employees, evidenced by how happy they always were to see him. That and how rapidly his livestock grew — proof that his herders were not stealing from him.

Mkhize was off on his usual trips to see Zamani and bring him goodies. His other sons were envious of Zamani, convinced he was their father’s favourite, since Mkhize visited him every weekend and made sure to bring him nice things when he did. Never mind that they lived with both their parents and saw them daily.

Mkhize did all this to ensure he had a relationship with all his children, though his family eyed his actions with suspicion. Upon noticing this, MaNgidi began to despise Zamani, blaming him for what she interpreted as her children’s mistreatment. She found the boy to pose a threat to her and her children’s inheritance.

According to Zulu culture, a man who fathers a child out of wedlock with no intention of marrying the child’s mother must pay a dowry, as agreed upon with that child’s maternal family, if he wishes the child to take his last name. Instead of fulfilling this condition, Mkhize offered to pay for the boy’s education until he reached matric, insisting that the boy took on the Mkhize family name. MaNgidi started plotting the murder of her husband, fearing that he would bequeath Zamani a bigger inheritance than the sons she’d borne him in wedlock.

Tell us: What do you think of Mr Mkhize and his wife?