Protest as minister faces double murder case in South Africa

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) – Scores of people protested outside a court in South Africa's Mpumalanga province where a provincial minister is appearing in a double murder case.

Some of the minister’s supporters dressed in party T-shirts belonging to the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party chanted slogans demanding his release.

Police said in a statement late Monday that Mpumalanga Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs Minister Mandla Msibi, 45, had surrendered in connection with at least two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

“He is alleged to have been involved in a shooting where two people were fatally shot and a third person was wounded on Aug. 22 in Nelspruit,” according to the police statement.

Msibi’s arrest now brings to three the total number of people arrested in connection with the case.

The provincial minister is expected to be granted bail later on Tuesday.

However, President Cyril Ramaphosa has reportedly called on the official to step aside as required by the ANC’s policy, according to several local media reports.

Earlier this year, the ANC suspended its powerful secretary-general, Ace Magashule, and several others facing serious charges of corruption.