Murder accused remanded in custody
THE ACDP in KZN has urged courts to think twice before granting bail to suspects accused of premeditated murder.
The plea was made by the party's provincial committee chair, Bishop Siboniso Myaka outside Empangeni Magistrate's Court on Friday.
He was speaking shortly after the court appearance of three suspects accused of killing former City of uMhlathuze ACDP councillor John Myaka.
The court proceeding was attended by scores of ACDP members, city Mayor Xolani Ngwezi and other councillors.
Phakamani Khumalo, Sandile Mabuyakhulu and Sipho Nxumalo are accused of killing Reverend Myaka of Cedar Family Church in eNseleni in June.
Khumalo and Mabuyakhulu abandoned their bail application.
The case was postponed to Thursday, 23 November for Nxumalo to apply for bail.
Nxumalo, from uDondolo area in Matshana, was arrested late last month and is a known reverend of the Zion Church in the area.
“Cllr Myaka was brutally murdered while praying at the pulpit. His killers could not even wait for him to finish his prayer, they decided to finish him off there,” said Myaka.
Ngwezi said the city is happy that the law enforcement agencies managed to arrest the suspects.
“We believe that when the trial starts, we will come to know the exact reasons Myaka was killed. We call on the police to ensure they arrest whoever is involved in this murder case.
“Everyone has a right to life, which is covered in the Bible, not only in our Constitution.
“We are here to show our support to the family and ACDP leadership. We demand justice for Myaka,” he said.
A close family source suggested Myaka’s murder was not politically motivated, but rather related to a property that he had bought in Macekane from a woman.
“The woman wanted R80 000. Myaka offered to pay R70 000 and paid a R30 000 deposit.
The woman claimed she wanted the money to pay for a site at uMhlanga reserve outside Ngwelezana. After the hit, the woman felt sick and went into hiding but died at Ngwelezana Hospital on 26 July from natural causes.
She worked at eNseleni Clinic as a cleaner,” said the source.