Witnesses retract statements against ANC Mpumalanga’s Mandla Msibi

Two witnesses in the murder case against ANC Mpumalanga Treasurer, Mandla Msibi have withdrawn their statements. 

Msibi is facing two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder and is currently out on R20 000 bail.

In their withdrawal affidavits, the witnesses said they were persuaded by an ANC regional leader to implicate Msibi. The leader reportedly works for the Office of the Premier

WITNESSES WITHDRAW STATEMENTS IN MANDLA MSIBI MURDER CASE

Both the witnesses aged 24 and 27 said they did not see anything nor who shot the three deceased during the incident. 

“I did not see Mandla Msibi and the others discharge firearms and kill Sfiso Mpila and two others. I only saw them entering the Coyotes Shisanyama using the main gate,” one of the affidavits read. 

JUST IN: The two eyewitness in Mandla Msibi's murder case have written withdrawal affidavits. They say they were coerced to lie about seeing Msibi shoot the Sfiso Mpila (victim) by Siyabonga Malandule. We are told Malandule is an ANC member & works in the office of the premier. pic.twitter.com/7HYVl6z4Lt

— Lindokuhle Xulu (@LindokuhlXulu1) April 21, 2022

Msibi was arrested and charged with the murders of Dingane Ngwenya and Sipho Lubisi, who were fatally shot outside the Coyotes Shisanyama restaurant in Mbombela on 22 August 2021.

He was then asked by the ANC to step aside as Member of Parliament and Agriculture MEC.

The case against Msibi and his five co-accused was transferred to the Mpumalanga division of the High Court in Mbombela. The trial was set for 5 to 16 September 2022. 

Despite the murder charges against him, Msibi was elected as Treasurer of the ANC in Mpumalanga on Saturday, 2 April.

Again he was asked to step aside just two days after his election as Treasurer.

He has however maintained that he is innocent and that the charges against him are politically motivated.

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