NELSPRUIT – Convicted murderer, Pastor Mandla Dube, (49) of the General Church of God in Chochocho, was granted R20 000 bail pending his appeal hearing.

Dube, who was found guilty of murdering Mr Sabelo Mlombo (20), was sentenced for 15 years on Monday by the Nelspruit Regional Court.

He applied for an appeal which was granted.

He initially pleaded not guilty to the charges. Dube was charged after he allegedly murdered Mlombo on suspicions of stealing his water tank.

During his trial, the court heard that Dube had a previous conviction and was fined R300 for fraud he committed in 1990.

The court also heard that he was sentenced to 90 days in prison after he was found guilty for a GBH assault case in 2005.