They once again filled the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court and Bester Street on Monday, where Msibi’s case was postponed to, February 24, 2022.

The state said it wanted to allow for further investigations. However, Msibi’s supporters viewed this as “dirty tactics” to delay the case until the Mpumalanga ANC holds it elective conference, earmarked for early next year. Msibi is one of the contenders for the treasurer position of the ruling party, and regarded as one of the key people of the conference.

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“We are very disappointed since the case has been postponed again and moved to a later date. We had expected for the court to quickly get it under way so it could be finalised soonest. The state firstly requested a two-month postponement to investigate this case, and now it requested yet another two months to further investigate the case. This is nothing but a smear campaign,” said Fuki Mofokeng, one of Msibi’s many voices within the ANC.

“The state was not prepared. As a matter of fact, the state does not have a case at all against Msibi and all these accused. We believe this is just a political ploy. We know that the aim of this is to delay the progress of comrade Msibi as he is about to take on one of the organisation’s most powerful positions as provincial treasurer.”

Msibi has, however, welcomed the decision, but also raised his concerns about that which he also labelled as delay tactics. He questioned the rationale behind the investigations, arguing that the state was too quick to make arrests, but now needs more time to investigate. “When we first came here, we were told that they were ready, but clearly they are were never ready, as it shows now. We will patiently wait for the final day, which we hope will be February 24, 2022. But honestly, it shows that they are not ready,” said Msibi as he addressed his supporters outside court.

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“We want to approach the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), because according to the Criminal Procedures Act, the police must investigate before arresting, but here the investigating officer made arrests before concluding his investigation. He didn’t even come to us for formal interviews as prescribed. But we learned through lawyers that we are people of interest in this matter with the police. We feel that we were treated unfairly and that is the reason why we are going to approach the NDPP,” Msibi continued.

One of Msibi’s accusers, the former Barbarton ward councillor, Lifa Nkosi, was recently arrested in connection with the killing of two people, including an off-duty police officer, in that town. Msibi’s supporters have come out strongly, asking how Nkosi could be a credible witness to the state after accusations of killing a police officer.

Msibi and his co-accused are out on Former MEC for agriculture, Mandla Msibi. R20 000 bail each.