The High Court in Mbombela has withdrawn charges against former Mpumalanga MEC for Agriculture Mandla Msibi and co-accused.
Judge Brian Mashile told Mandla Msibi, Joseph Charlie Ngwenya, Tshepo Matsane, Anele Mnisi, Njabulo Mkhonto and Sibusiso Mdluli that they are free to go.
The six suspects were accused were facing two counts of murder and one of attempted murder for their alleged involvement in a shooting incident in August 2021. They were out on bail for the alleged double murder of Sindela Lubisi and Dingaan Ngwenya, and the attempted murder of Sfiso Mpila last year at shisanyama in Mbombela.
Monica Nyuswa, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson confirmed that the charges were withdrawn due to outstanding information as highlighted by the prosecution team, which the NPA felt it would not be in the interest of justice to proceed with the trial without it.
“We took the decision of provisionally withdrawing the charges against all the accused pending the outcome of the outstanding information. Once that information has been obtained, then an informed decision will be taken,” Nyuswa told the media outside court.
She could not disclose what the outstanding information was and when it might be obtained by the prosecution, only stating that the information is sensitive and would be revealed at the trial.
In April, Msibi was elected as the African National Congress Treasurer, however, he agreed to step aside, as he was facing murder and attempted murder charges.
Source: News24, Times Live, The Citizen, SABC News, image from Twitter