After a week behind bars double murder accused – the axed Mpumalanga Agriculture MEC Mandla Msibi – was on Tuesday granted bail at the Mbombela [Formerly Nelspruit] Magistrate’s Court.
The former MEC was arrested last Monday after he handed himself over to the police.
However, a bomb scare that resulted in the court building being cleared last Wednesday delayed Msibi’s bid for freedom on bail.
While he was behind bars, the 45-year-old politician was fired from his MEC job and his African National Congress party relieved him of all his leadership positions.
Msibi and two others face charges related to a shooting in August at a braai spot in Mbombela, where two people were shot dead and another was wounded.
Earlier on Tuesday, the former MEC for Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs in Mpumalanga and his co- accused Anele Sonke Mnisi and Njabulo Mkhonto were granted bail of R20 000 each.
The trio, who face two murder charges and another of attempted murder, were granted bail on condition they do not interfere with state witnesses. They must report to Pienaar Police Station every Monday and Friday.
They were also ordered to surrender their passports to the investigating officer before 16:30 on Tuesday.
All three accused are not allowed to leave Mpumalanga Province without informing the investigation officer.
Two other accused – Charlie Ngwenya (35) and Tshepo Matsane (30) – previously appeared on the same matter and were released on R20 000 bail each on Friday, 8 October 2021.
All five accused will appear again on 6 December 2021.
