DPP to say which court will hear ‘Angels’ trial
THE case against six men accused of killing five Ngcobo police officers and an off-duty soldier earlier this year has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for a decision.
Among those who appeared in court yesterday was Phuthumile Mancoba, 31, one of the “Seven Angels” from the notorious Angels Ministry Church.
He and his five co-accused – Andani Monco, 30, Kwanele Ndlwana, 23, Siphesihle Tatsi, 19, Siphosomzi Tshefu, 24, and Phumzile Mhlatywa, 46 – were arrested earlier this year after the police officers and soldier were gunned down – an incident which made headlines arouund the country.
The six now face charges of murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Senior state prosecutor Nomapha Mvandaba yesterday requested magistrate Thobile Bara to grant a postponement to July 27.
“[Police] investigations have been completed and what is now left is a decision from the DPP,” she told the court.
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesman Luxolo Tyali shed more light on this when contacted by the Daily Dispatch yesterday.
He said the DPP’s decision was in relation to which court should hear the case, and also for finalisation of the indictment.
Bara told the six accused that the matter was ready to proceed to trial but that the next hearing would be on July 27 for the DPP’s decision on which court would hear the trial.
“For that reason it will be postponed.”
The magistrate asked Monco, Ndlwana, Tatsi, Tshefu and Mhlatywa if they still wanted to conduct their own defence.
They each nodded a “yes”. Mancoba, who had earlier opted for a legal aid lawyer, said he wanted to continue being represented by the lawyer.
Among those who attended yesterday’s court appearance were religious and traditional leaders from around Ngcobo, as well as other members of the controversial Angels Ministry Church – including 22-year-old Benjamin Mancoba, the only “angel” that has not been either killed or arrested.
Outside court, Benjamin said life had changed dramatically for him and his remaining family.
He said some of the residents of the town looked at him “like a dog”, but added that some of the things that had befallen his family had been prophesied by his late father, Siphiwo Mancoba.
“I am not scared. We knew this would happen,” he said.
But the South African Council of Churches chairman in the Ngcobo sub-region, Reverend Malusi Keto, said they were unhappy as residents with the many postponements in the case.
He said they had hoped the matter would have been dealt with by now, and added the religious fraternity in the area felt tarnished by the events that had unfolded at the Angels Ministry Church.
“We have fingers pointed at us now wherever we go because of what those people did,” he said.
He said they still wanted the premises from which the Seven Angels operated from demolished. —