/ 22 June 2007

Mbeki bodyguard appears in court on murder charge

One of President Thabo Mbeki’s VIP protection-unit bodyguards has appeared in court in Cape Town after allegedly shooting a man dead in a shebeen on the weekend.

The Western Cape head of the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD), Thabo Leholo, confirmed on Friday that Sergeant Sabata Vula faced charges of murder and attempted murder.

He would be back in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for a bail application, which the ICD would oppose, Leholo said.

He said Vula was being charged with the murder of Reginald Mofemela, and the attempted murder of Ncebekazi Booi, who was shot in the right arm.

The Cape Argus has reported that Booi is believed to be Vula’s girlfriend. — Sapa