BARBERTON – Magistrate Recardo Cloete warned City of Mbombela ward 45 councilor, Cllr Mandla Mamba (31) not to make mockery of the justice system.
Mamba, a lawyer by profession with an LLB qualification obtained from the University of Limpopo, along with his four co-accused – Messrs Gift Sboniso Mnisi (25), Sihle Nkambule, Sabelo Mlothshwa and Themba Mwali – appeared before the Barberton Magistrate’s Court last Friday for formal bail application.
Due to Mamba being a lawyer and having represented many of his clients in the local court, the court proceedings were delayed as they had to wait for a neutral magistrate and prosecutor not from around the area.
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The cases finally resumed around midday with Magistrate Cloete from Lydenburg and Prosecutor Peter Nkadimeng from Kabokweni being in charge of the proceedings.
Representing the five was well-known lawyer, Maxhosa Labe. Both Mamba and Mnisi faced schedule five cases and they still have pending cases against them. They are facing charges of malicious damage to property and that of theft of a fire-arm.
Nkambule, Mlotshwa and Mwali are facing charges of malicious to damage to property. The court heard that Mamba has no previous conviction, but still has two pending cases against him.
These include that of assault with intent to cause grievously bodily harm and that of house breaking with intent to steal. These cases will go for trial on September 23 and October 4, respectively.
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Mnisi is having a pending case of attempted truck hijacking and the case will be going for trial next month. All Nkambule, Mlotshwa and Mwali, have no previous convictions or pending cases against them.
Cloete slammed both Mamba and Mnisi for being involved in other criminal activities while they were still having pending cases against them. “I’m very dissatisfied with the two (Mamba and Mnisi) of you. You are making mockery of our justice system. While still having pending cases against you, you are again involved in another criminal activity,” said Cloete.
Prosecutor Nkadimeng in his earlier judgement had denied both Mamba and Mnisi bail. It took a strong application by Labe to convince Cloete as to why his clients should be granted bail.
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In his application for Mamba, Labe said Mamba has just recently started to work for the City of Mbombela and he could lose his job if he was denied bail.
“This applicant earns a salary of R18 000 per month and he is a community leader. He can afford to pay a bail of R1 000 with the assistance of his family. If he is not granted bail and he remains in custody, he will lose his job,” said Labe.
He said Mnisi has also recently started to work at Barberton Mines as a general worker and was earning a salary of R8 500 per-month.
“Just like applicant number-one (Mamba) applicant number-five (Mnisi) has just started to work and if he is denied bail, he might lose his job,” added Labe.
Cloete finally granted the two men bail to a loud applause of Mamba supporters, who had packed the court desks.
Mamba and Mnisi were granted a bail of R10 000 each. Nkambule, Mlotshwa and Mwali were each granted a bail of R500. Their cases were postponed to October 13.
