Murder suspect denied bail

TONGA – The state has denied a 25-year-old male bail, in a bid to protect him from angry community members who a baying for is blood.

Mr Joseph Thobela of Mangweni was not asked to plead when he appeared in the Tonga Magistrate’s Court last Thursday. Investigating officer, Const Sipho Shekwa, said giving Thobela bail would basically put his life in danger.

“Your worship, the accused meets every criteria to grant him bail, but the community where he lives is going to kill him,”Shekwa explained.

Thobela was arrested on November 2 following a fatal clash between two groups, which resulted in the death of Mbuso Duma Mbatha. According to Shekwa, on the day of Mbatha’s funeral an angry mob had gathered with the intent of torching Mbatha’s home.

“Before the day of the funeral, a group of community members wanted to burn his family home. Fortunately some other members quickly informed us and we rushed to the house to disperse the community members. Granting him bail will be a big mistake,” Shekwa testified.

He asked the court to consider the angry community members who also stand to be arrested should Thobela be granted bail and anything happen to him.

Thobela’s co-accused was released after he could not be linked to the stabbing, which also led to the hospitalisation of three other victims.

“During my investigation I established that when the groups were fighting, Thobela managed to stab about four men from the other group, and unfortunately Mbatha died on the spot and the other three were taken to Tonga Hospital for medical treatment,” added Shekwa.

Magistrate Sibonisiwe Sibuyi said it was in Thobela’s best interest for him to be detained in police custody.

“I can see that you want to go home, but I can’t grant you bail as I will be risking your life,” she said.

This was met with great discontent by community members who had came out in their numbers and filled the courtroom.

Thobela is expected back in court on December 10.