Today, January 23, the alleged murderers of an ANC councillor in Piet Retief, Mpumalanga, made a brief court appearance.
Blessing Nhlakanipho Ntombela, 30, and Blessing Bongani Dlamini, 38, appeared briefly before the Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court on accusations of murder and attempted murder, according to police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.
“The case has been postponed to 30 January 2023 for a formal bail application. They were both remanded in custody,” according to Brigadier Mohlala.
“They we arrested yesterday Sunday (22 January) at Mkhondo in relation to the murder of a ward Councillor Mr Sbonelo (Mthembu) Ntshangase (36), and his friends Mr Sandile Khumalo (51) and Mr Sizwe Mbingo (40),” he said.
Friday, January 13th, according to the report, the victims were reportedly shot by armed suspects in Mkhondo, also known as Piet Retief.
Moreover, it is claimed that the suspects fired numerous rounds at Mr. Ntshangase, who was in the yard, as well as Mr. Mbingo, who tragically died at the scene, and Mr. Khumalo, who was injured in the yard. The suspects then departed in an unknown direction.
On a Facebook Live broadcast, Councillor Ntshangase said he was on a hit list and named the folks he believed were responsible for political deaths in Mkhondo.
The Provincial Commissioner of Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, has pledged that further arrests are coming as the investigation continues.
This comes after Manamela implored the public, particularly the relatives and coworkers of the killed victims, to stay calm and give police the room to investigate and bring all of the offenders to justice while letting the law to run its course.
»ANC COUNCILLOR SUSPECTED KILLERS NAMED«