The Nelspruit magistrate's court where former Mpumalanga MEC Mandla Msibi is applying for bail has been evacuated due to a bomb scare.
Magistrate Suzan Monaledi had to adjourn the testimony of investigating officer WO Boy Bhila on Wednesday after she got a message that there was a bomb in the court building.
Msibi's bail hearing in the double murder and attempted murder case started on Monday afternoon.
“Listen everyone, can we please all leave the building. I have just received a message that there's a bomb in the building. Therefore let’s all leave and we will be told when to come back,” Monaledi said just after 12pm, before police and security personnel evacuated everyone from the building.
The situation infuriated thousands of Msibi’s supporters who protested outside court and called for his release.
“They are lying. Whoever sent the message doesn't want Msibi to be out [on bail]," said one of Msibi's supporters, Lindo Mashego.
"We always said that they want him behind bars because he’s a good man. The state is being used to punish him.”
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