Emmanuel Neverdie Mkhabela and Eckson Jabulani Mkhonto were remanded in custody when they appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court yesterday, June 25. The court reserved judgment in their bail application and postponed the matter to Tuesday, June 30.

Mkhabela (47) and Mkhonto (53) are facing premeditated murder charges as well as charges of the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. The charges relate to the murder of Izzy Mabidi Machaba, a forensic investigator who was attached to the Office of the Mpumalanga Premier.

“It is alleged that the victim was driving from Mpumalanga to his residence in Pretoria on September 7, 2023. While travelling along Hardy Muller Circle in Villieria, a vehicle allegedly occupied by the two accused drove alongside the deceased’s vehicle and multiple shots were fired at him before the suspects fled the scene,” said NPA regional spokesperson for the Gauteng Division, Lumka Mahanjana.

Machaba’s vehicle was brought to a complete halt, but he allegedly managed to call his superiors and told them that the two officers fired several gunshots at him.
“He was later found on the roadside by security personnel in the area and transported to the hospital,” said Mahanjana.

She said Mkhabela, a protocol manager in the Integrity Management Unit (IMU) and Mkhonto, a vetting officer, also attached to the IMU, were arrested following extensive investigations into Machaba’s murder.