Two jailed for plot to kill ANC brass freed on trial technicality

TWO former King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) municipal employees imprisoned five years ago after being found guilty of their involvement in a plot to murder five senior ANC leaders have been released.

The 18-year jail sentences and convictions of Thembinkosi Mapeyi and Thembile Ceba on July 2013 had been set aside on appeal.

A Mthatha High Court bench of appeal found the trial judge had erred by not conducting a trial within a trial in the case.

This was after the men’s lawyer had objected to the admissibility of recording evidence said to be taken by an undercover agent.

Mapeyi, who was KSD mayor for several weeks in 2002, and Ceba had been in prison since their arrest by Hawks in March 2011, after what was believed to be a hit list was exposed by the police.

They were found guilty of plotting to assassinate Rural Development MEC and ANC provincial spokesman Mlibo Qoboshiyane, ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane, ANC KSD sub-region chairman and now also KSD mayor Dumani Zozo, O R Tambo region secretary Lulama Ngcukayithobi and Solly Nduku, a former OR Tambo district municipality mayoral committee member.

At the time of the arrest, Mapeyi was a driver and Ceba a bodyguard to former KSD mayor Siyakholwa Mlamli – now an O R Tambo district mayoral committee member.

The court ruled that due to the absence of a trial within a trial, the matter would need to start afresh.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Luxolo Tyali said the NPA would need to study the ruling before deciding a way forward.