POLICE Minister Bheki Cele says no political killings cases have been dropped in KwaZulu-Natal.
Cele was addressing the spate of political killings in KZN and to stated how they will resolve the shockingly slow progress on more than 132 murder investigations.
“To date out of 163 case dockets, 80 accounts for murder, 24 for attempted murder, 36 for intimidation and other charges.”
According to Cele a total of 161 arrests have been made by the task team that was appointed.
He says over 25 suspects were detained for questioning and released, 136 charged, 66 are in police custody, 32 are out on bail, 27 have been convicted, 2 are dead and 5 are serving life sentences.
“On six of the 59 cases currently pending in court, charges have been provisionally withdrawn against some of the identified suspects.”
“Amongst the six cases that have been provisionally withdrawn some suspects have been re-arrested and their cases have been enrolled in different courts,” he said.
He says the task team has moved amongst others on the following high profile cases to courts from different political parties:
• Murder of Sindiso Magaqa (4 accused)
• Murder of Londiwe Mhlongo (1 accused)
• Murder of Derick Mthethwa (2 accused)
• Murder of Wandile Ngobeni (3 accused)
• Murder of Sibuyiselo Dlamini (4 accused)
• Murder of Qashana Mchunu (6 accused)
• Murder of Sibusiso Mbhobo (6 accused)
He added that some of the firearms linked to murder cases have not yet been recovered.
Cele said security companies that are suspected to have been involved in the killing, all their firearms are currently confiscated and sent for ballistic testing.
