Ex-Rustenburg mayor guilty of murder

2012-07-16 14:39

Court (Shuttertstock)

Rustenburg - Former Rustenburg mayor Mathew Wolmarans and his former bodyguard were found guilty of murder by the North West High Court sitting in Rustenburg on Monday.

Judge Ronnie Hendricks found Wolmarans and Enoch Mtshaba guilty of the murder of local councillor Moss Phakoe.

Phakoe was shot dead outside his home in Rustenburg North on 14 March 2009.

Hendricks withdrew charges of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition against the two, saying the State could not prove this beyond a reasonable doubt.

"The State did prove beyond reasonable doubt that the two accused planned to kill the deceased," Hendricks said.

Outside the court Phakoe's supporters danced. They wore red T-shirts with Phakoe's face emblazoned on the front and the words "Judgement Day". On the back were the words "Hate me but don't hurt me".

Phakoe reportedly said this to Wolmarans after he handed a dossier detailing alleged corruption in the Rustenburg municipality to then co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister Sicelo Shiceka.

- SAPA