Pastor’s murder: Court tension boils
During the case, many members of the Pastor's congregation were present clad in red and white. They sat rigidly awaiting justice to be served.
The air was thick with tension, disbelief and anger as the five accused of murdering Salvation Army Pastor, Hamilton Zulu, appeared in the Glencoe Magistrate’s Court.
Vusimuzi Themba Mbhele (26), Nala Dlamini (24), Sibusiso Mthethwa ( 21) and two 17-year-old minors appeared for a formal bail application on April 23.
However, the case was remanded until May 5.
During the case, it was heard that the group had six previous convictions, four warnings and one pending case collectively.
Vusimuzi Themba Mbhele, who resides in Sibongile, has previous convictions, three of which he served sentences for.
His convictions are assault, for which he served three years, two years for the possession of an illegal firearm in Newcastle and a suspended sentence of five years for being in the possession of stolen copper.
He also has a pending case of robbery and was out on bail during the murder of Pastor Zulu.
Nala Dlamini, a resident in Sithembile, has no previous convictions, nor pending cases, but was out on warnings for rape, assault, robbery and attempted rape.
Sibusiso Mthethwa from Glencoe has no previous convictions or pending cases.
The other two minors are also residents of Glencoe.
They escaped from Ekuseni Youth Development Centre in Newcastle after being detained for housebreaking.
During the case, many members of the Pastor’s congregation were present clad in red and white. They sat rigidly awaiting justice to be served.
Upon hearing the remandment, they showed signs of dismay but are still hopeful for justice to take its course.
