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Mhlonishwa Sokhulu and Sbusiso Chocolo, both charged with the murder of Cllr Reginald Ndima, the Amajuba District Municipality’s speaker, will appear in the Newcastle Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 14 February 2022.
They initially appeared in court last week, following their arrest. The case was then postponed for Monday to allow bail information.
As court proceedings are now set to continue, Colonel Athlenda Mathe explains that the National Task Team investigating political-related cases in KZN found the pair with a 357 magnum revolver. The firearm was then tested in a ballistics lab to determine if it was used to commission the crime.
The Task Team also seized a Ford Ranger, which the pair is believed to have used as a getaway vehicle.
The National Task Team was established in 2018 to bring perpetrators of politically related crimes to justice and put an end to political violence in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
The National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Khehla John Sitole, says, “This latest arrest must serve as a deterrent to those who continuously perpetrate such crimes. We will continue to ensure that the necessary resources are deployed to prevent and combat any further incidents of this nature. We also urge our communities to work closely with the SAPS in combatting these heinous crimes.”
In addition, the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) in KwaZulu-Natal, Sipho Hlomuka, says the assassination of Cllr Ndima and the murder of eThekwini ward 103 councillor, Minenhle Mkhize, just days before, has left a deep scar on the communities served by these councillors.
However, as these councillors will be missed, MEC Hlomuka points out that Cllr Ndima’s and Cllr Mkhize’s murders were calculated.
“These attacks are viewed as attempts by those that seek to subvert and destabilise the sphere of local government within our province. As a government we will not be intimidated by these attacks, we will instead push with determination to ensure that those that are responsible are held to account.”
Furthermore, he claims that the local government sphere represents our communities’ hopes and ambitions. “Any attack on councillors is a direct attack on our democracy.”
As Sokhulu and Chocolo prepare for their court appearance, MEC Hlomuka expresses his satisfaction that they are now facing the consequences of their actions, stating that this is a clear indication that lawlessness will not be tolerated in our province.
“These arrests give us hope that the masterminds behind these attacks on councillors will also face the might of the law. We continue to appeal to our communities for them to work with our law enforcement agencies so that those that are responsible for these acts of cowardice face justice.”
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