A slain Mpumalanga ANC councilor is seen fighting from beyond the grave, as video footage shows his days are numbered and his alleged killers will be part of an investigation into the triple murder. Provincial police would not confirm if they had seen the video in which Sbonelo ‘Smile’ Mthembu called out the man he claimed wanted him dead. These figures include former municipal mayor Mkhondo Vusi “Sgemegeme” Motha, who Mthembu claims compiled a hit list of those who opposed the alleged municipal looting during his tenure as mayor….
A slain Mpumalanga ANC councilor is seen fighting from beyond the grave, as video footage shows his days are numbered and his alleged killers will be part of an investigation into the triple murder.
Provincial police would not confirm if they had seen the video in which Sbonelo ‘Smile’ Mthembu called out the man he claimed wanted him dead.
These figures include former municipal mayor Mkhondo Vusi “Sgemegeme” Motha, who Mthembu claims compiled a hit list of people who opposed the alleged looting of the municipality during his tenure as mayor.
Watch: ANC councilor Sbonelo Mthembu predicts the killer
Police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said they could not open the investigation process, but said they would not leave evidence unexamined.
The deceased recorded the video shortly after ANC leader Muzi Manyathi was also shot dead in the area in November last year.
Manyathi, 41, ANC vice-chairman in Gert Sibande region and a PR councilor in Mkhondo local municipality, died at a fuel station in Mkhondo.
His concern was proven correct when he was shot and killed in Mkhondo [Piet Retief]together with Sandile Khumalo, 51, and Sizwe Mbingo, 40.
One of the people accused of trying to kill him has been arrested.
‘I know I’m next’
In a video posted on Facebook, a visibly agitated Mthembu claimed Motha and the current mayor of Mkhondo local municipality, Mthokozisi Simelane, were behind Manyathi’s murder, and that he was next.
“I know you will come for me next. I want the public to know that if you come for me next, I was killed by Vusi Motha. If I am attacked by the next person, it will be Vusi Motha… Anyway, it won’t be the first time. You have done it entire.
“You fired me and made accusations against me that I am [involved] in fraud. Then you came to attack me and shoot me with your friends,” he said in the video.
Motha previously told News24 that she was in the process of suing Mthembu for R500 000 for defamation, and that her lawyer’s first instructions were to force her to remove the video from social media and settle the matter in court.
In April 2021, Mthembu again took to Facebook, admitting Motha and his fellow taxi drivers attacked him because he did not support the ANC faction, which he nicknamed ‘Ngqi’. He posted a picture of his damaged car as proof of the attack.
In the post, the deceased wrote: Sgemegeme vusi motha… you are not a leader but a thug. You were fired from work for the first time [because] I don’t support your ngqi group. Izolo [yesterday] you attack me with your rank mates. #Just focus [all the way] whether you like it or not [like it or not]. People help each other [because] even the police have paid their salaries (sic).
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The former mayor was arrested
Motha and Willington Sangweni, the owner of a security company, have been arrested, but neither has been charged with murder.
Motha was charged with possessing a firearm without a license and Sangweni was charged with fraud, Contravention of Firearm Control Act and Contravention of the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority. [Psira] Prevail.
BREAKING: Former Mayor of Mkhondo Municipality, Vusi Motha has been arrested and charged with possession of illegal firearms. Sifiso Sangweni, the defendant, was charged with supplying firearms and ammunition to persons who were not authorized to carry them.#eNCA pic.twitter.com/qNV7pu0StX— Siphamandla Goge (@SiphamandlaGoge) January 17, 2023
The duo appeared in the Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court this week and were remanded in custody pending a formal bail application next Tuesday.
Motha, a feared character in the region, was accused of being a gangster in 2018, after three people were killed during community protests against him.
Community members told the SABC how they were attacked, their homes petrol bombed, and death threats by Motha, after they raised the issue of corruption during a community meeting.
The third suspect was released
Police suffered a major setback on Thursday when the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) refused to register a docket for the first appearance of a third suspect arrested in connection with the murder due to lack of evidence.
The suspect, from uMbumbulu in KwaZulu-Natal, was taken in for questioning on Friday and later charged with murder, but has yet to be released.
“The prosecutor has instructed us to find sufficient evidence [docket] can be registered. Not all is lost on the part of the police. We have information that we [following]. As soon as we add the missing point, we will definitely re-arrest the suspect and bring him to court,” explained Mohlala.
He said he remains in custody of the right suspect but will follow the prosecutor’s instructions and bring him back to court.
empty promises
#At “….UBab’ wenu wabulawa yi-ANC. We are sick and tired…,” said an angry community member. @SAPoliceService Minister, General Bheki Cele that there is no progress in the investigation of the murder case in Mkhondo. The minister visited the families of three murdered ANC members. #eNCA pic.twitter.com/KkDE2FEomh— Siphamandla Goge (@SiphamandlaGoge) January 16, 2023
On Wednesday ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula visited the region and called on the police to investigate political killings in the province.
Mbalula also visited the family of the deceased and said he was impressed with the progress the police had made in arresting the suspects.
He admitted that the ruling party should take some of the blame for political murders, admitting that the ANC had been infiltrated by criminal elements.
The visit follows Police Minister Bheki Cele, his deputy Cassel Mathale, police commissioner General Fannie Masemola as well as Mpumalanga premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane on Monday.
The minister has been heavily criticized for failing to keep his promise to tackle the killings in 2018.
Prime Minister Mtsweni-Tsipane says there have been at least 12 political assassinations in the province since 2009.
“We must work hard to resolve these issues and help the families of those killed to find closure. Only when the killers have been punished can the families find closure,” he said in a statement.
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