Former Mpumalanga Agriculture MEC Mandla Msibi and his co-accused have been granted bail of R20 000 bail by the Nelspruit Magistrates’ Court.
They are facing murder charges and attempted murder. It’s alleged that they were involved in a shooting incident that claimed the lives of two people and left a third wounded in August.
Their case was delayed last week after a bomb scare which prompted officials to evacuate the entire court building and proceedings were adjourned for the day.
Mandla Msibi’s bail application adjourned following a bomb scare:
Msibi was also axed as the provincial African National Congress (ANC) election manager.
According to the evidence presented in court, the victims Christopher Ngwenya and Sindela Lubisi were killed from a hail of bullets. Sfiso Mpila, who was amongst them, escaped with a bullet wound on the leg.
Two bullets were found on Ngwenya’s head.
Investigating officer Boy Bhila indicated that he has video footage showing the accused and others who are still at large.
However, defence advocate Coert Jordaan said the charges against Msibi and the two accused are malicious and a smear campaign to destroy Msibi’s image.
Jordaan says the state did not indicate its intention to oppose bail from the onset until the investigating officer testified.
He says the officer also failed to execute his duties because he effected arrest seven weeks after the incident occurred. Additional reporting: Motsebi Monareng
Murder-accused Mpumalanga MEC Mandla Msibi fired
