The main witness in the double murder case against former Mpumalanga agriculture, land reform and rural development MEC Mandla Msibi has been remanded in custody following his appearance in relation to the killing of a police officer.
Lifa Nkosi, 42, an outgoing ward 45 councillor in Barberton was due to apply for bail in the Barberton magistrate’s court on Thursday but the matter was postponed to November 30 due to faulty recording machines.
He was arrested on Tuesday for the murder of off-duty police detective, Nkosinathi Ngwenya, and his friend Jafta Mnisi.
Ngwenya, who was attached to the Nelspruit police detective unit, was found dead outside a drinking spot in Barberton with multiple gunshot wounds. Next to his lifeless body was that of Mnisi.
The killings happened on October 11.
National Prosecuting Authority Mpumalanga spokesperson Monisa Nyuswa said: “It is alleged that the accused (Nkosi) and his friends went to the second deceased’s (Jafta Mnisi) house demanding to see him. In the process, they allegedly fired gun shots on the ground and also near the head of Mnisi’s younger brother (sic). The accused are alleged to have gone to search for Mnisi and found him with Ngwenya, and shot them [several] times. A witness we cannot name saw the whole shooting.”
Nkosi was named by the state in Msibi’s case as one of the key witnesses.
Msibi and five others are accused of fatally shooting two men outside Coyotes Chisa Nyama in Mbombela on September 22.
Msibi, Shugulugu Mkhonto and Anele Mnisi handed themselves over to the police station on October 11 and are out on R10,000 bail for the murders of Sindela Sipho Lubisi and Dingaan Ngwenya as well as the attempted murder of Sifiso Mpila.
Their matter is due back in court on December 6.
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