Lack of proper evidence to get to the bottom of the matter is cited by cops.
The police in Witbank have withdrawn investigating eMalahleni municipal speaker Mduduzi ‘Mswati’ Nkosi’s shooting case, citing that dropping the probe is a result of a lack of evidence to find the mysterious man who entered his yard and shot at him.
The shooter had previously been thought to be one of his associates within the notorious Shikisha group who shot him in the leg after a clash over money but cops say they refuse to be drawn into speculations.
The cops say once new “satisfying information” is received on the case they will then re-open the docket.
Mswati’s docket is marked: “Case closed as undetected/ suspect(s) unknown”.
The docket was opened on 27 September 2021 at the Klipfontein police station.
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The cops say Mswati told them that on the Sunday night of 26 September 2021 he was awakened by the alarm of his Dhuva farmhouse and when he got out to check what was happening he found there were two men on the premise.
The man had first been noticed by his worker, according to the information that Mswati gave to cops, and the worker – identified as a Mr Masinga – “screamed for help” and when Mswati came out of the house he was shot in the left leg by the men.
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In a message that Mswati sent to an ANCYL WhatsApp a day after the shooting incident, on 27 September 2021, he wrote that an exchange of gunshots occurred at his farmhouse on the Sunday night between himself and the unknown men, resulting in him being shot in the leg – allegedly being shot more than once in one leg.
Police spokesman Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said soon after shooting him in the leg the suspects stole a water pump and clothes that were hanging on the washing line and then fled the scene.
“The case was investigated by Witbank detectives and no arrests have been made to date. The case was closed as undetected as the suspect(s) were unknown,” Mohlala said.
A case is often closed as undetected when the evidence supplied by the complainant or witnesses can not lead to an arrest.
“It is not the NPA that closes the case but the police station when they see that the matter has the potential of wasting their time or state resources, therefore they decide to put the docket away until there is new satisfying information on the matter,” a police insider at Witbank police station said when speaking to the 013NEWS reporter about what status of a case classified as closed due to undetectability means.
A few weeks ago, Mswati lost a mayoral race to Cornelia Nkalitshana, who served as the municipal finance MMC after she won the interview with flying colours – owing to Mswati’s lack of experience and unconvincing academic qualifications to become mayor and ensure the proper running of a collapsing municipality such as the eMalahleni.
The battle was between Mswati, Nkalitshana and Qonde Maseko who is the municipal whip of the council but sources say Mswati came last on the interview despite being number 2 on the IEC list of PR councillor candidates where the late mayor Linah Malatjie was number 1.
Sources say the interview panellists considered qualifications and experience and Nkalitshana took the helm of the municipality as a result. She was inaugurated on 7 February 2022.
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The DA congratulated Nkalitshana and say she has been in politics for some time and was a good replacement for Malatjie.
“As the DA we don’t have any problem with her. We know her very well and we welcome her appointment to the position of mayor,” councillor Aron Khumalo said.
She replaced Malatjie who was killed with her husband on 2 January 2022.
The ANC’s Sello Matshokga said Nkalitshana brings a “vast experience to the position of the mayor” as she had served as a member of the mayoral committee in various departments since 2006.
Mswati is also punted in internal elective battles ahead of the Nkangala ANC regional congress next week as the person who should contest the post of regional secretary.
Resigned regional secretary Leah Khoza, who is currently the district mayor of the Nkangala municipality, is gunning the position of regional chairperson that is currently occupied by Speedy Mashilo who is lobbied for the position of provincial deputy chairperson.
Other contestants in Nkangala are Thomas Mabena who is said to be eyeing the post of regional secretary and Thomas Ngwenya who wants to be chair.
Sources say Mswati is believed to be a crypto ally of deputy president David Mabuza in a province where Mabuza has lost his kingmaker status.
Mswati has refused to comment.
(edited by ZK)
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