Six not tied to Chale murder

There is no evidence linking Forum 4 Service Delivery councillor Napoleon Webster and five other men arrested in connection with the murder of a man in Marikana near Rustenburg, the North West High Court heard yesterday.

Sabata Petros Chale was hacked to death on December 8 2016 in Marikana West, allegedly by Aubrey Seitsang, Sibonile Sobopha, Mdlondozi Fundiwo, Herbert Baqhesi, Webster, William Nyenyane, Aphindile Pungone, Samson Gqwetani, Gift Luveli, Nkululeko Msithwa, Nkosindiphile Nziyose, Luvo Soyizwaphi, Sivuyile Qasha and Mzolisi Mbulana.

The state conceded there was not enough evidence against Fundiwo, Webster, Pungone, Luveli, Msithwa and Soyizwaphi after defence lawyers brought an application before the court to discharge the men from the case, stating that state witnesses were not credible.

Eric Marx, representing 13 of the men, said state witness Josephine Tayitayi was not a credible witness. “How can she point out the accused without an identity parade? Accused seven [Aphindile Pungone] was in Sandton at the time of the murder,” Marx said.

Advocate Stuart Wilson for Webster also questioned the credibility of witnesses.

Judge Ronnie Hendricks postponed the matter to today, when he will rule on the defence application to dismiss charges against the men. – ANA