NPA, ANC in talks over Cala slaying

Two men accused of killing Sakhisizwe municipality chief whip Thanduxolo Nobhongoza are yet to appear in court after the NPA and ANC leaders were locked in a three-hour meeting discussing the case on Monday.

Nobhongoza was shot dead on Thursday while walking to a neighbour’s home in Cala.

The Hawks arrested two men aged 34 and 45 on Saturday on suspicion of murder. They were due to appear in the Cala magistrate’s court on Monday, but did not.

The court started at 12.30pm on Monday after the magistrate was delayed in Cacadu as the Cala magistrate is on leave.

After all the cases were called, the prosecutor said the two arrested following the killing of Nobhongoza would not be called as she was waiting for NPA regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali who was meeting with politicians.

Tyali, ANC leaders and cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa met for three hours, with their meeting ending at 4.30pm on Monday.

After the meeting, Tyali said they did not want to rush to get the suspects to court and be defeated on technicalities.

“We need to make sure that we close all the loopholes so that when we prosecute we are successful,” he said.

Nobhongoza’s uncle Mlulami Silingela said the whole ordeal felt like a nightmare.

Silingela, who spoke to Daily Dispatch for the first time since the murder, described the politician as a pillar of strength for the family.

“We thought by today we would see who killed our son and we urge the National Prosecuting Authority to give us feedback on whether the two people [arrested] are going to be charged or not,” he said.

Tyali said the suspects would appear in court on Wednesday because the 48 hours that the law allows for suspects to be held before making their first appearance in court would end on Wednesday.

ANC Chris Hani regional chair Wongama Gela called on the community of Cala to support the Nobhongoza family. ANC regional secretary Lusanda Sizani demanded justice for his comrade.

“We want all Nobhongoza’s killers to be arrested. We would also like the case to be heard here in Cala so that the community can attend the court,” he said.

He said Nobhongoza had advocated for the unity of Khowa [formerly Elliot] and Cala. He believes the divisions between Khowa and Cala residents led to Nobhongoza’s murder.

“It is unfortunate that in the ANC we recruit people and criminals happen to be among them. Nobhongoza’s murder is political and all those implicated must be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.

Nobhongoza will be buried on Saturday in Cala.