Call made for ‘special court’
Political murders in KZN should be dealt with separately ‘to fast-track cases’
THE GOVERNMENT should consider establishing a special court to deal with cases of political murders in KwaZulu-Natal, ANC provincial spokesperson Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu said yesterday.
Simelane-Zulu addressed the media at uMzimkhulu Magistrate’s Court after the party’s provincial executive committee (PEC) member and district mayor Mluleki Ndobe made his first appearance in connection with the murder of former ANC Youth League secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa in 2017. Ndobe will remain in custody with his co-accused until a formal bail application takes place next week.
The Harry Gwala District Municipality mayor is facing one charge of murder and two of attempted murder.
He appeared with co-accused Sbonelo Lindelani Myeza, 39; Mbulelo Innocent Mpofani, 34; and Zweliphansi Skhosana, 48. Myeza was arrested on March 5 and the other three on Sunday, according to the charge sheet.
The men are all being charged with common purpose – meaning they allegedly conspired to kill Magaqa and his colleagues, Nontsikelelo Mafa and Jabu Msiya, in July 2017, in a premeditated act.
Simelane-Zulu said a special court would be able to better handle the cases, given that political murders were leading to instability in the province.
“With the normal court process you wait because there is court roll, which sometimes becomes backdated for two years and it takes a very long time to finalise cases. We think it would be in the interest of justice and the society if we have specialised courts to fast-track these cases so we close this chapter,” she said.
She said the ANC should also find ways of dealing with its leaders who were facing serious crimes.
“We should sit down and say yes, this is what the ANC constitution is saying, but as an organisation this is what should happen.”
Simelane-Zulu hoped that the PEC would soon meet to deliberate on the matter, describing Ndobe’s alleged link to the murder as exceptional since “we never had a PEC member and mayor facing this situation”. “It is a very embarrassing situation,” she said.
Magaqa – a PR councillor at uMzimkhulu Local Municipality at the time of his death – was gunned down alongside Mafa and Msiya. Both women survived but were placed under protection. uMzimkhulu falls under Harry Gwala municipality.
A large police contingent and hundreds of ANC supporters gathered at the court early yesterday waiting for Ndobe to arrive. He is number three on the ANC’s provincial candidate list, meaning he was assured another top government position following the May 8 elections. His municipality last year tabled a R751 million budget.
A formal bail application will take place on Monday and Tuesday next week, when the state will oppose bail.