It remains to be seen whether two Mpumalanga Integrity Management Unit (IMU) officers accused of premeditated murder will be granted bail in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court where they are expected to appear today (June 12), reports Mpumalanga News.

The court remanded Eckson Jabulani Mkhonto (53) and Emanuel Neverdie Mkhabela (47) in custody during their appearances on June 4 and 5. The investigating officer from the Gauteng police’s Organised Crime Unit was instructed to verify the residential addresses of both accused before the court could rule on whether or not to grant them bail.

Mkhonto hails from Mahushu near Hazyview, but currently resides in Msholozi near White River, while Mkhabela hails from Rolle Trust but resides in Thulamahashe in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality.

Their arrests follow a lengthy investigation into the 2023 shooting of IMU Chief Director Izzy Mabidi Machaba (57), who also served as a forensic investigator for the provincial government.

According to Lumka Mahanjana, the Gauteng spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, at the time of the incident, Machaba contacted his supervisors, informing them that the two accused had fired several gunshots at him.

Severely wounded, he remained in a coma for several months following the incident. Nearly a year later, he succumbed to his injuries.

Mkhonto was arrested at a guesthouse in Tonga, Mpumalanga, on May 28, while Mkhabela handed himself over at the Villieria Police Station the next day.

Mahanjana said the two face charges of premeditated murder, as well as the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

An insider, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation, told Lowvelder that, at the time of the attack, Machaba was investigating allegations that Mkhabela had misrepresented his qualifications and that Mkhonto had submitted questionable travel claims.

“He was also reportedly probing corruption allegations linked to the pair involving millions of rands in the Mpumalanga government,” said the insider.

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