PUDEMO MAN FOUND GUILTY IN EXPLOSIVES CASE

PIGG’S PEAK – Nearly eight years later, Musa Ngubeni, a former student leader and PUDEMO member, has been found guilty of possession of explosives.

Ngubeni had been charged under the Explosives Act 4 of 1961.

He was found guilty by Pigg’s Peak Principal Magistrate Joe Gumedze, who was sitting at the Manzini Magistrates Court on May 14, 2019.
Ngubeni was arrested in April 2011 alongside Maxwell Dlamini but was later released on bail in February 2012.

Yesterday, he again appeared before Gumedze represented by his lawyer at Pigg’s Peak Magistrates Court.
Several representatives from the proscribed People’s Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) were present in court, including the political party’s President, Mlungisi Makhanya.

Others who were present also included Mphandlana Shongwe, as well as Basil Thwala, who was also previously arrested during a protest and sent to jail without an option of a fine.

Ngubeni’s lawyer, who was identified as Sibandze, mitigated on behalf of his client while Crown counsel Thabo Dlamini also made submissions.
Dlamini submitted that Ngubeni should be given the maximum sentence of 15 years which will serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders.

 Offences

He submitted that one Thandaza Silolo, who had been charged under the suppression of Terrorism Act, had submitted a statement that Ngubeni, with another, had travelled with him in a vehicle at the time he committed the  offences.

Dlamini submitted that though Ngubeni was not directly linked to Silolo’s bombings, he may have been a mastermind.
Ngubeni’s lawyer, however, submitted that the veracity of the statement by Silolo was not verified.
Sibandze said this did not mean that Ngubeni was part of the activities which were committed by Silolo.

He also said there was no proof that Ngubeni intended to use the explosives though he was found guilty of having them in his possession.
“It was not even physical possession,” said Sibandze. He further submitted that Ngubeni was a father of a seven-year-old child.

He said Ngubeni had also completed his law degree and that he was pursuing further studies in criminal law.
The magistrate then stated that he needed more clarity on the law before he could pass sentence in the matter.

He advised that he would still need more time with the Crown counsel as well as Ngubeni’s lawyer.
The matter was adjourned for today at 8:30am at the Manzini Magistrates Court.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: