Former Mpumalanga MEC for Agriculture Mandla Msibi has expressed disappointment at another postponement in his murder case. Msibi and five co-accused briefly appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court in Mbombela on two counts of murder and one of attempted murder.
Many people came to support the former MEC on Monday in court. Msibi and five others were arrested two months ago in relation to an August shooting incident in Mbombela in which two people were killed and one was injured.
The incident happened after an African National Congress (ANC) meeting. A scuffle reportedly broke out between two factions of the party. A commotion ensued when some members of the groups met at a pub in the city.
Msibi’s supporters believe that the state’s case is weak. Mandla Mamba is one of them.
“I think it is a high time to tell those who are contraceptives of progress that their time is over. But their days are calculated. We have been invited by the court of law to come on this day the 6th day of December to hear the progress.”
Addressing his supporters outside court, Msibi maintains that the charges are politically motivated.
” We want to approach the NDPP because in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act, police must investigate and arrest. In this case, police arrested they never even approached us, it is only through our lawyers that we made the statement so we feel that the matter is not fair on the roll. The other thing it is them that has done that now, with our legal team we still going to do it.”
Msibi appeared with Joseph Ngwenya, Tsepo Matsane, Anele Mnisi, Njabulo Mkhonto and Sibusiso Mdluli. Their case has been postponed to the 24th of February 2022.
Their bail of R20 000 bail has been extended.
SABC News reporter Nonhlanhla Jele reports outside court:
