Businessman and painter abandon bail in mayor’s murder case
Learning and teaching in schools in and around Malamulele were disrupted on Friday as two more suspects appeared in the local magistrate's court for the killing of the Collins Chabane mayor, Moses Maluleke.
LIMPOPO – Shops and other businesses were forced to close their doors as learners and communities chanted outside the Malamulele Magistrate’s Court as Avhatakali Mudau (36) and Wisani Baloyi (36) appeared for the murder of the Collins Chabane mayor, Moses Maluleke.
Mudau, a well-known businessperson in Thohoyandou and Baloyi, a well-known painter around the Saselamani village are accused of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, the possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.
They were not asked to plead during their first appearance.
Both abandoned their bail application and were remanded in custody when they re-appeared on August 26, and joined two other suspects, Shumani Nemadodzi (47) and Avhatakali Mulaudzi (42) who were the first to be arrested and they will appear in court on the 19 September.
Read more: Malamulele: Duo abandon bail in Mayor’s murder case
The first two accused were arrested on August 12, after the team was assembled to probe the murder and attempted murder.
Limpopo police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo said the first two accused were nabbed after an intensive police investigation that commenced shortly after the incident that took place at Xikundu village under the Saselamani policing area on July 21.
According to earlier reports, three unknown suspects entered the mayor’s home in Xikundu-Saselamani village at 19:00, before they demanded money.
Read more: Murdered mayor remembered as champion of development
The mayor succumbed to his injuries on the scene, while his son survived.
The son was transported to a nearby hospital, and has since been discharged.
