Mayors, sons on weapons, murder rap

ALFRED Duma Municipality mayor Vincent Madlala was found with six firearms in his house when he was arrested on Friday.

This emerged in the Ezakheni Magistrate’s Court where the mayor, his two sons, his daughter and three other suspects appeared yesterday. Madlala faces charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition as well as defeating the ends of justice after he allegedly prevented police from searching his house despite them having a warrant.

The mayor and his daughter, Sanelisiwe Madlala, were released on R10 000 bail each and their case was postponed to August 22. His daughter also faced a charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. It is alleged that Madlala told police his daughter owned a security company and that the firearms belonged to her.

His two sons, Sandile Madlala and Sabelo Madlala, together with three other suspects, were denied bail and will return to court next Tuesday. They face nine charges in total, including two counts of murder and illegal possession of firearms.

The media were not allowed inside the courtroom and security was tight outside, with armed specialised police units manning the court entrance.

The mayor and the other six suspects were arrested on Friday morning when heavily armed police from the political task team swooped on his house.

His arrest and that of Newcastle mayor Ntuthuko Mahlaba were expected to come under discussion by the ANC’S Kwazulu-natal provincial working committee which is expected to take a decision on whether or not the two mayors would be told to stepaside or remain in their positions.

In terms of the party’s step-aside rule the pair must voluntarily vacate their positions or be suspended until their case is finalised.

Mahlaba was last week arrested and charged with theft, assault and malicious damage to property.

A councillor in the Alfred Duma Municipality, who declined to be named, said Madlala had allegedly been using his sons as hit men. He said the other three suspects were apparently close friends of his sons and were allegedly also part of at hit squad apparently operating under the command of the mayor.

“Although we have not received information about who the murdered people were, charging them with double murder proved me correct that they were hit men.

“I have no doubt that the killing of an SANDF soldier last year will also come up, if not as part of the double murder they were charged for,” said the source.

Police Minister Bheki Cele is expected to shed more light on the mayor and the sons’ involvement in the political killings when he briefs the media today.

The minister will hold a media briefing to provide an update on the Phoenix killings where more than 20 people died in last month’s unrest.