Pretoria - Four Limpopo men accused of murdering Mogalakwena municipality ANC ward councillor Vaaltyn Kekana (54) and Ralph Kanyane (32) in 2019 were denied bail by the Mokopane Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Samuel Seruputlane Mokonyane, 50, Jabulane Petros Mashamaite, 43, James Mswazi Chuma, 42, and Nkholo Frans Mangadi, 49, were seeking bail after they were charged with conspiracy to commit murder and two counts of murder, unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Nzhangi said at the time of the incident, Kekana was about to table a report to the municipal council, regarding irregular expenditure or maladministration in the Mogalakwena municipality.
It is alleged that the victims were sprayed with bullets while sitting in a car three years ago and instantly succumbed to their injuries.
The case has drawn widespread attention with community members demonstrating outside court calling for them not to get bail.
The accused businessmen are no stranger to criminal activities.
Mashamaite has another pending case in the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court facing 121 counts of corruption, three of money laundering and conspiracy to commit corruption in the Mogalakwena Municipality case.
Mokonyane has a pending case in Motetema Magistrate’s Court, he is facing a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
In 2017, Mangadi was given parole after he was sentenced to serve 20 years in 2006 for a charge of a rape.
The suspects denied being behind the murders of the two ANC councillors saying that they were friends and they did not kill them.
On their application they have been asking the court to release them and would abide by the conditions until the matter is finalised.
The state opposed their bail, stating potential interference with the state witnesses as he knows them.
Pretoria News