The Alexandra Magistrates’ Court recently postponed a case of murder and attempted murder, in which local councillor, Chris Mabunda, is allegedly implicated, after key witnesses failed to turn up.
The case will now be heard on 10 December.
The case, which stems from 2005 when the councillor was not yet in office, involves two other co-accused a businessman Vijay Jeena and Richard Nxokweni, who is serving an eight-year prison term for robbery.
At one of the hearings in July, the key witness, who survived the murder attempt and who resided at the businessman’s shop premises in Wynberg, testified that the three allegedly beat him severely after accusing him of stealing money from the business.
He claimed to have first been beaten and then bound with rope by the businessman at the business premises. He was then transported by van to the businessman’s home in Marlboro where the councillor and Nxokweni allegedly beat him with their fists and metal objects.
He alleged that they occasionally covered his head with a hood while they beat him and demanded to know who his accomplice was, and for him to return the money. He suffered broken ribs and head and facial swelling afterwards.
The victim further claimed that after his beating, the suspects took him by van to the home of another person in Alexandra who they claimed was involved in the theft.
This person was also beaten and later died, allegedly at the hands of the accused.
The case continues.
