By: Pamella Majola
The murder trial relating to former ANC Youth League secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa has been postponed to 3 June at the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
Senior State Prosecutor Elvis Gcweka revealed that four witnesses connected to the case have died during the course of the lengthy proceedings.
The matter has been plagued by repeated delays since 2019, including fresh investigations, arrests, and the withdrawal of charges against some individuals linked to the case. The prolonged legal process has drawn criticism from both the prosecution and observers closely following the high-profile trial.
The three accused, Sbonelo Myeza, Mbulelo Mpofana and Zweliphansi Skhosana, are facing charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice.
Gcweka told the court that the ongoing delays have become unreasonable, particularly given the impact on witnesses involved in the matter. He noted that some witnesses have remained under witness protection for more than six years while waiting for the case to proceed.
Magaqa was shot in July 2017 near uMzimkhulu in southern KwaZulu-Natal and later died in hospital from his injuries. His killing sent shockwaves through political circles and has remained one of the province’s most closely watched political murder cases.
