Opposition party, Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on the Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane for immediate action on her murder accused Agriculture MEC, Mandla Msibi, who is currently in custody facing charges of murder and attempted murder, SurgeZirc SA reports.
Emerging reports confirmed that Msibi handed himself over to the Nelspruit Police Station on Monday morning in connection with two counts of murder and attempted murder which allegedly happened in August this year.
It will be recalled that Msibi appeared briefly at the Nelspruit Magistrate Court where he remains in custody.
According to a statement issued by the DA, it says: “Msibi is not new to controversy. He has been in and out of courts since 2017 for a number of charges which include the following: murder, attempted murder, malicious damage to property, robbery, and violent assault. Yet again, he is facing serious charges of murder and attempted murder.”
Msibi in July 2017 was accused of smashing and vandalising a car belonging to a councilor, later in August that same year, he was accused of breaking into, trashing, and vandalising a house which was later followed by an accusation of attempted murder and assault of a person who eventually became partially disabled.
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Similarly, in 2018, there were reports that he was arrested for malicious damage to property after he allegedly retaliated to community members who accused him of corruption. Msibi however survived all these charges against him.
The DA while reacting to the murder allegations said leaders must act responsibly and earn the trust of the community.
The opposition however urged the ANC not to use its power to protect Msibi from law enforcement agencies.
“They must let the investigation take its course, and if he is found guilty, he must be imprisoned like all offenders. The DA will closely monitor such developments.
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“The DA urges Premier Mtshweni-Tsipane to immediately remove Msibi from her Cabinet if the ANC is serious about their own step aside rule until Msibi’s name is cleared by a court of law.
“It is time for the ANC in Mpumalanga to put their money where their mouth is and stop harbouring alleged criminals within their ranks. Msibi must face the full might of the law like any other citizen.
“If the Premier fails to act, that will show the people of our Province that she will always put the ANC and his comrades first instead of ensuring Mpumalanga is a safe place for all its citizens. Only a DA government can restore law and order in our Province, a government that will ensure criminals are put behind bars and not in government offices – a government that gets things done!” the statement reads.
