UMJINDI – The ANC will decide the fate of City of Mbombela councillor, Mr Mandla Mamba who was arrested on charges of malicious damage to property and robbery on Saturday.
Mamba was arrested with four others for torching two houses belonging to three suspects arrested for allegedly killing Mamba’s friend Mr Lewis Mnisi. Mnisi was apparently assaulted to death by Mr Benedict Mhlanga (28), Mr Sipho Mbowane (31) and Mr Boikie Malambe Mokoena (30) on Saturday morning.
All three appeared in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on charges of murder on Monday. The case was postponed to September 12 for formal bail application.
According to the police, on the same day of the murder, two houses belonging to the trio were set alight by a group of people alleged to be Mnisi’s friends. When the Mbombela Fire and Rescue team arrived, they were attacked by these so-called friends.
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One of firefighters was robbed of a firearm, and their trucks were set alight.
Mamba, Mr Sihle Nkambule (24), Mr Sabelo Mlotshwa (20), Mr Themba Mwali (33) and
Mr Gift Mnisi (25), also appeared in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on Monday and will be remanded in custody until tomorrow, pending further investigation.
The ANC secretary of the province, Mr Mandla Ndlovu said the party was still waiting for the report from the Umjindi office.
“We don’t expect councillors to spend time in police cells, and we won’t tolerate misbehaviour. We will make a decision after receiving the report,” Ndlovu said.
Mamba, who is a lawyer by profession, is no stranger to controversy.
In June he was arrested with Mnisi and appeared in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on charges of alleged housebreaking, theft and malicious damage to property.
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Mamba is considered to be an influential member in his community. He was at the forefront of a march to the local mines to demand job opportunities for community members.
He also encouraged employees of the former Umjindi Local Municipality to support the amalgamation of Mbombela and the local municipality.
