MBOMBELA – Eight of the accused in the public violence case against eleven residents of Zwelisha Ward B were aqcuitted on Friday in the Mbombela Regional Court. The accused were charged with committing public violence after it was alleged that they ransacked the home of ANC ward councillor Elizabeth Maziya in 2012.
Although photographic evidence was lead, this evidence could not link all of the 11 accused to the alleged crime beyond reasonable doubt.
Attorney for the accused, Mr Lucky Mngomezulu, applied for the discharge of the accused in terms of section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act after the state closed is case. The motivation behind such an application is – simply put – that the state had not proved their case beyond reasonable doubt to begin with.
Magistrate Ms Vanessa Joubert granted discharge to eight of the eleven accused – Mr Promise Mashaba, Ms Marcia Ndlala, Mr Saina Milazi, Mr Oscar Mndawe, Mr Vincent Mdluli, Mr Khulisiwe Mashaba, Mr David Ntsanda, Mr Ntomfuthi Khoza, Ms Phindile Sekatane, and , but found that a prima facie case will be considered further on November 28 in respect of three of the accused. They are Ms Celiwe Nkambule, Mr Innocent Nkosi and Ms Nthomifuthi Khoza.
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Read previous articles here: 11 Appear in court again on public violence charges
