Sandile Mzizi Seeks Bail Amid Trial Delays

Background of the Case

Who Was Killed?

In October 2021, ANC Ward 101 candidate Siyabonga Mkhize and activist Mzukisi Nyanga were shot dead just before the local elections.

Why the Murder?

State prosecutors say the killing was meant to clear the way for Mkhipheni Mzimuni Ngiba, a longtime ANC councilor for Ward 101, to win the election. Ngiba is now one of the co‑accused in the case.

Why Mzizi Wants Bail

New Facts Argument

Sandile Mzizi, one of the five people charged with the murders, has filed a fresh bail application. He argues that new facts—mainly the long delay in his trial—justify his release.

Trial Delay Claims

• Mzizi says his case keeps getting pushed aside because the court is busy with high‑profile matters, such as the murder trial of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his friend Chef Tebello “Tibz” Mostoane.
• He points out that the lead prosecutor, Lawrence Gcaba, is also handling the AKA case, which means his own trial could be postponed until as late as April 2027.
• Additional delays came from an expert’s unavailability in February 2026 and Judge Garth Harrison’s attendance at judicial training.

Mzizi has already been denied bail three times, including an appeal to the Durban High Court. This time he offered R10 000 bail and promised not to interfere with state witnesses.

Prosecution’s Response

Witness Threats

Senior public prosecutor Elvis Gcweka rejected the bail request. He submitted an affidavit from Sergeant Mzwamandla Kubheka of the Political Assassinations Task Team, which said Mzizi sent someone to persuade a state witness to stay quiet in February 2026. Kubheka added that Mzizi has a history of threatening witnesses, a fact raised in earlier bail hearings.

Past Bail Denials

The investigating officer also noted that Mzizi allegedly committed the current offenses while out on bail awaiting appeal in a separate murder case where he had already been convicted.

Legal‑Team Changes

Sergeant Kubheka explained that frequent changes of Mzizi’s lawyers have slowed the process, requiring lengthy consultations and drawn‑out pre‑trial conferences from 2023 to January 2024.

What Happens Next?

The Durban Magistrates Court has adjourned the bail decision to early June, when a judge will weigh Mzizi’s delay arguments against the prosecution’s evidence of witness intimidation and past bail violations.

Conclusion

Mzizi’s bid for freedom hinges on claims that his trial is stuck in a legal backlog, while prosecutors stress his alleged pattern of threatening witnesses and repeated legal‑team shuffles. The upcoming June hearing will decide whether he can await trial outside of custody or remain behind bars as the case moves forward.