Murder, robbery case postponed

A lawyer representing murder and robbery accused Andile Mngqibisa has withdrawn, causing a postponement of the case against three men.

Mngqibisa, Phikolomzi Ntonintshi and Thabile Manyathela were arrested while entering Komani, and later charged with attempted murder, possession of illegal firearms, illegal ammunition, possessing a stolen vehicle and pointing a firearm.

The case was postponed to April 30 to allow Mngqibisa to get a new lawyer. Asked if he had another lawyer, Mngqibisa told the court that he needed to consult with his family first.

The trio were arrested close to the circle linking the R67 and N6 on August 29 2023.

Manyathela, who is from Ncora village in Cofimvaba, has a public administration qualification and is in the transport industry where he was said, in court, to be the owner of a Toyota Avanza, a Toyota Quantum, a Siyaya and a VW Polo.

Ntonintshi, who is from Gubevu, Lower Qutsa, in Cofimvaba, has a carwash business in Cape Town, while Mngqibisa from St Marks is a spaza shop owner.

When Mngqibisa appeared on these charges on August 29 last year, his parole for a murder committed in 2000, for which he was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2003, was revoked.

In previous court appearances, investigating officer (IO) Nobuzwe Myeki said the accused were wanted in Gqeberha, Western Cape and Richmond for crimes committed there.

All three were wanted in Richmond after they allegedly robbed a G4S cash-in-transit (CIT) vehicle and fled with R2m.

They are wanted in Gqeberha for attempted robbery and murder.

In Komga, they are accused of fleeing with cash after a G4S CIT heist.

Myeki said Ntonintshi also failed to tell the court of his previous convictions.

“Ntonintshi was previously sentenced to two years in prison for housebreaking crimes committed in 2007 and 2008 in Brackenfell and Bothasig in Western Cape,” Myeki said.

He was also previously sentenced to three months in jail in 2004 for the same offence.”

All three suspects remained in custody.

Ntonintshi was previously sentenced to two years in prison for housebreaking crimes committed in 2007 and 2008 in Brackenfell and Bothasig in Western Cape