Celani Sikhakhane
About 60 witnesses are set to testify in the murder trial of former ANCYL secretary general Sandiso Magaqa, who was killed in 2017.
The trial of four suspects will start on Monday in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
Magaqa was killed in uMzimkhulu after he fought against a R40 million community hall which was allegedly linked to corruption. Two other councillors, Nonsikelelo Mafa and Jabu Mzizi-Msiya, were not killed but only sustained gunshot wounds.
Activists who fought corruption together with Magaqa revealed at his funeral that they had reported their death threats to then-ANC treasurer general Zweli Mkhize as a senior ANC leader in KwaZulu-Natal but nothing was done.
The late Harry Gwala mayor Mluleki Ndobe and the municipal manager of uMzimkhulu local municipality Zweliphansi Skhosana were charged with Magaqa’s murder but their cases were later withdrawn due to insufficient evidence.
Ndobe then committed suicide by shooting himself at his home in Durban.
Magaqa’s case has been dragging on for years because some of the accused either changed their lawyers at the last minute or came up with other delaying tactics.
Some members of the ANC have been complaining that none of the party’s leaders have shown up at court to support Magaqa’s family.
The four accused are former police officer Sibonelo Myeza, businessman Mbulelo Mpofana, Mlungisi Ncalane and Sibusiso Ncengwa.
They are charged with conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, malicious damage to property and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, one being a prohibited firearm.
They are also accused of acting with common purpose to commit the crimes and, if convicted, face life imprisonment.
Magaqa had likened the hall that was built to a church that should never cost taxpayers R40 million.
That is why Magaqa and others decided to fight, accusing certain ANC leaders and other uMzimkhulu officials of colluding to defraud taxpayers. The hall was never completed.
