Mzuvukile Wellington Cenenda, one of eight suspects linked and indicted on 179 charges in 2017, appeared in the Middelburg High Court this week for judgment on his bail application based on new facts.

Middelburg Observer reports that Cenenda was previously dubbed one of SA’s most wanted cash-in-transit heist kingpins by various media houses across the country.

Organised crime investigation

According to a 2022 briefing by the national head for Directorate Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, an investigation targeted a criminal group involved in heists across Mpumalanga, Free State, Limpopo, North West and Gauteng. The aim was to link suspects to cases and prosecute them as an organised criminal syndicate.

Court information revealed Cenenda was earlier released on bail but absconded. He allegedly changed his name to Muzi Masilela and started a new life in Bloemfontein.

He was arrested in 2018 and allegedly found in possession of a stolen car.

Defence arguments

In his bail argument, Cenenda cited prosecution delays, the length of the trial and having spent nearly seven years in custody awaiting trial as new and exceptional circumstances warranting release.

The court noted the indictment had increased from 179 to 190 charges, with Cenenda facing at least 84 of them.

His legal team argued that delays were linked to discussions in 2023 about separating the trials, which the state later objected to in 2024. Cenenda warned the trial might not begin before 2026.

State’s response and judgment

The state argued delays and trial length were not new facts, noting these issues had already been raised in a previous unsuccessful bail application.

The judge said Cenenda had delayed the trial by absconding from bail for more than 14 months, stressing that his detention was not punishment but necessary to ensure attendance.

“I am fully convinced that the applicant has no desire to attend his trial until it is completed and he failed to show exceptional circumstances that allow for his release on bail,” said the judge.

Cenenda’s bail application was dismissed and he was remanded in custody. The case was postponed to October 6.

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