Court proceedings in murder case of Standerton man take time
The case was postponed to April 15 and will be heard in Delmas. The proceedings were done by 11:40.
The wheels of justice turn slowly but grind exceedingly fine.
Court proceedings in the Mkhwanazi murder case have gone on for more than a year and a half, with a ruling possibly expected only in 2025.
Mqobi Surprise Mkhwanazi was reported missing on July 19, 2022, and information suggested he had been kidnapped.
The suspects dumped the body of the 29-year-old in the Vaal River on July 21, 2022.
At the time, the provincial commissioner of police, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, urged the public to participate in preventing or resolving crime.
The public came on board with information that helped the police investigation. SAPS initially apprehended three suspects and detained a 21-year-old for questioning.
Information from the suspects led to the retrieval of Mkhwanazi’s partially burnt body from the river.
According to police, he was shot and killed.
Allegedly, suspects who drove a white BMW kidnapped the deceased.
The police confiscated two vehicles, a white BMW and a white Mazda double-cab bakkie, allegedly used during the crime.
Sthembiso Mbhokane, his brother Bafana, and Sibusiso Radebe made several appearances in court.
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The charges for the first two were murder, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice, while Radebe faced charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
The detectives cornered the brothers Mbhokane in Standerton. They arrested Radebe in Sakhile, finding him with the weapon and ammunition.
According to the information received, they found the deceased’s bank cards in Radebe’s possession.
He was granted bail on certain conditions but then rearrested, and a murder charge was added to the docket.
The Mkhwanazi docket went to the National Prosecuting Authority for further investigation. The ANC Women’s League in Thuthukani opposed bail at the Standerton Magistrate’s Court proceedings.
They carried placards of the late Mqobi Surprise Mkhwanazi, and their petition to oppose bail for the Mbhokanes had more than 1 000 signatures.
According to a source, the deceased’s family submitted affidavits, and the court accepted them. Also presented to the court were sworn submissions about getting bail.
In the sitting of a Special High Court in Delmas on February 19, the proceeding began at 11:23.
According to the source, the defence lawyer introduced himself and stated the reasons for the postponement, among other things, to consult properly and study the documents.
The case was postponed to April 15 and will be heard in Delmas. The proceedings were done by 11:40.
The motive for the killing has not been established and is unknown at this stage.
