/ 8 August 2007

Mpumalanga mayor charged with murder

The mayor of Mpumalanga’s Govan Mbeki municipality is expected to appear in court on Friday on charges of killing his deputy, police said.

Sipho Nkosi will appear in the Evander Magistrate’s Court charged with Thandi Mtsweni’s murder, said Superintendent Sibongile Nkosi on Wednesday.

He was arrested on Tuesday at the Evander Magistrate’s Court after the murder claim came to light in an affidavit by the alleged mastermind, Florence Lukhele, in her bail application.

Nkosi allegedly paid Lukhele R30 000 to carry out the killing.

Lukhele is expected to appear in the same court on August 14, where her bail application will continue. She was arrested last week along with Madoda Nkhambule (49) Sikhosiphe Gwala (42) Themba Ntombela (30) and Neo Moloi (36). They are expected to appear in court on August 22.

Mtsweni was shot dead on the night of June 27 when she arrived home with her husband and 14-year-old son. Two gunmen waiting in the yard shot her three times as she opened the kitchen door to take groceries inside while her husband parked the car and the teenager closed the gate. They fled without taking anything. – Sapa