Three of the four men accused of murdering a son of the KwaZulu-Natal social services and development MEC earlier this year, appeared briefly in the Mtubatuba Circuit Court on Monday, police reported.
The case was postponed until Tuesday to give the prosecution team time to decide whether to proceed with the trial without a forth man, who escaped from custody last week.
”We told the court we believe the prosecution should proceed with the murder trial because there is enough evidence against the remaining men,” police representative Superintendent Vish Naidoo said.
Lucky Thwala, Bonginkosi Nene, Bhekisisa Kunene, ages unknown, and Mlungisi Zulu (26) allegedly ambushed and killed Prince Mazwi Zulu while he was travelling with his mother and a driver between Ulundi and Melmoth in January. His mother and the driver, though wounded in the incident, survived the attack.
The men were arrested soon after the attack but Mlungisi Zulu escaped from custody on Friday. Mlungisi Zulu was seeking bail in connection with another unrelated case when he leapt from the dock and escaped from the Eshowe Magistrate’s Court. On Monday, police said he was still at large.
Naidoo said a tight security cordon was in place when the men appeared on Monday.
Prince Mazwi Zulu was the son of KwaZulu-Natal MEC Prince Gideon Zulu. – Sapa