CIVIL SERVANT’S GUN USED TO KILL CHIEF RANGER

SITEKI – The gun that was used to kill Chief Ranger George Mbatha allegedly belonged to a civil servant, who now faces charges linked to mishandling the weapon.

Mbatha was shot and killed last week Monday, while inside his house at Hlane Game Park. His son, Fana Vusi Mbatha (34) of Lomahasha and Ndumiso Fakudze (28) of Mhlumeni have since been charged with the murder of the chief ranger. They appeared at Simunye Magistrates Court last week Wednesday and are expected back in court on Thursday, pending the committal of the case to the High Court. They appeared before Magistrate Nomcebo Mabuza. When their right to legal representation was read to the duo, accused number one (Fana) elected to engage the services of an attorney, while his co-accused (Ndumiso), chose to conduct his own defence.

Concealed

Meanwhile, particulars of the civil servant will be concealed for now until his appearance in court. He was said to be working in one of the offices in the Lubombo Region. According to a source close to the matter, the civil servant was not aware that one of the accused persons was borrowing the gun to allegedly commit a crime. The source confided that one of the accused persons used to borrow the gun for hunting purposes. After hunting, the civil servant would benefit game meat. When called to shed light on the matter, the civil servant asked not to comment on the basis that it was now being handled in courts. “I cannot discuss this matter because it is being handled by the courts,” he said. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said police managed to find the gun and said the owner of the gun had been charged.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: