Former controversial Mkhondo Local Municipality Mayor Vusi Sgemegeme Motha has been arrested along with his friend Sifiso Sangweni for being in possession of guns suspected to have been used in a triple murder.

 THE CHARGES 

Motha, from Piet Retief in Mpumalanga, is facing a charge of being in possession of an illegal firearm while Sangweni is facing a criminal charge of providing a firearm and ammunition to a person not authorised to carry it.The two are alleged to have been found with firearms that are suspected to have been used in the murders of ANC councillor Sbonelo Mthembu and his two friends, Sizwe Mbingo and Sandile Khumalo last week Friday. They appeared at the Mkhondo Magistrate Court on Monday and their case was postponed to the 24th for further investigation. Both were remanded in custody. Last year Motha was arrested and charged with the murder of ANC councillor Muzi Manyathi who was the deputy chairperson of Gert Sibande region in November 2022. He was later released due to lack of evidence. 

CONTROVERSY 

In 2022, shortly after Manyathi was assassinated, Mthembu posted a video on social media fingering Motha in Manyathi's murder. He went on to say if he is murdered the police should look into Motha. Mthembu was assassinated last week Friday. Mthembu was the ward 12 councillor in the Mkhondo local municipality and accused Motha of hiring assassins to eliminate them in retaliation for removing him from power as they did not support his Ngqi Faction. Mthembu's social media came after the brutal murder of  Gert Sibande region and ANC regional deputy chairman Muzi Manyathi was gunned down on the evening of Friday evening 4 November 2022 at a petrol station in Piet Retief by an unknown gunman wearing a white cap and a white T-shirt, who climbed out of a Mercedes Benz to shoot Manyathi multiple times at close range. 

KILLED IN COLD BLOOD

Mthembu and his friends were shot dead at around 8pm at Longhomes township.  Police said the councillor and his mechanic were dropped off by a friend who was driving a bakkie when three armed men suddenly appeared in the yard and opened fire. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said the suspects allegedly fired multiple shots at Mthembu and Khumalo who were in the yard and shot Mbingo, who was inside the bakkie. Mthembu died in hospital, Khumalo on the way to hospital while Mbingo died on the scene.