Court denies bail to Msibi for murder charges

The Witbank Magistrate’s court in Mpumalanga has denied bail to Thokozani Msibi who is facing kidnapping and murder charges.

This follows the killing of a 13 year-old Gabisile Shabani, who was living with albinism and her one year-old cousin Nkosikhona Ngwenya – who were kidnapped at their home in Vosman Witbank in January 2018.

Msibi who has denied the charges against him, appeared in court with his co-accused Mthokozisi Mkhize. Meanwhile the co-accused, Mkhize, has been remanded in custody and will apply for bail on March 13th.

Family members of the two children who were kidnapped and later found dead could not hold back tears in court as the prosecutor presented the state’s case.

According to the state prosecutor Fannie Mavundla, the accused Thokozani Msibi was the mastermind behind the kidnapping of the two children.

The court heard that Msibi and other two co-accused wanted body parts of a person with albinism in order to grow their businesses. The trio reportedly went to the children’s house and kidnapped them.

Msibi is said to have confessed to his involvement in the children’s disappearance and led police to whereabouts of their bodies.

One of the bodies was found in a shallow grave while the other was found in a stream near the N4 road just outside eMalahleni.

Police also found body parts at the accused’s house. A third suspect who is also a traditional healer is reported to have fled to Swaziland where he has also been arrested with body parts.

Meanwhile, Msibi’s legal representative submitted an affidavit to the state denying the allegations against him.

In the affidavit, Msibi says he was assaulted and forced to make the confession by the police.

He also argues that the state has a weak case against him as most of its evidence was attained from him.

Meanwhile hundreds of people who protested outside court welcomed the court’s decision to deny him bail.

According to Mduduzi Gwili from the Disability Forum the court’s decision will send a strong message to the public.

“For them not to grant him bail today, we are very very much pleased and we are confident in the justice system that justice will prevail, whatever the outcome is but at the moment we are satisfied, it sends a strong message to the public letting them know that people with albinism are also important in the society and are part of the society.”

Meanwhile, members of the Traditional Healers Organisation also came out in numbers to support the families.

The organisation has distanced itself from Msibi’s alleged acts. Sphiwe Manana from the organisation says traditional healers do not use body parts to heal people.

“We are here to support the families of the victims, we want to make sure that all these people are put in jail, as traditional healers we don’t use body parts.”

The court believes it is in the interest of justice to deny the suspect bail based on the sensitivity of the matter.

The DNA results of the bodies of the two children have not yet been released.

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