Case stalls over confession reading
Mbabane – Four men arrested for 17 counts surrounding ATM bombings want to confess, however, their case continuation has been further delayed by unreadable handwriting of confession statements.
Sicelo Msibi, Muziwandile Lukhele, Given Mfanakazane Mavuso and Lindani Zitha appeared at the Mbabane Magistrates Courts before the Senior Magistrate Sfiso Vilakati on Thursday where a stand-down of proceedings was requested by the Prosecutor Mncedisi Dlamini.
The highly anticipated case has been dragging and mired by controversy since 2022 when they were arrested for blasting First National Bank (FNB), Standard Bank, EswatiniBank and NedBank ATMs in various locations around Mbabane. The charges include serious offenses such as ATM bombings, money laundering, contravening immigration and arms laws, and kidnapping.
The matter has previously been thrown into further disarray as a third lawyer withdrew legal services for the accused. Lawyer Sivesonkhe Ngwenya is the latest to withdraw, citing non-payment as the primary reason for his decision. This follows similar withdrawals by previous lawyers, Linda Dlamini and Advocate Mduduzi “Tsotsi” Mabila, who also cited financial disputes with the accused.
The matter was set for the reading of the suspects’ confessions but it failed to proceed as Dlamini told the magistrate that he was unable to present the confessions.
He explained that he could not see the handwriting of the judicial officer who had originally recorded the statements. The courtroom was relatively packed, filled with curious public gallery onlookers who have been keenly following the developments of one of the prominent cases.
All four accused appeared impeccably dressed and well-groomed, presenting a neat and clean appearance. Zitha is out of custody after having successfully paid bail while the three others are kept in custody.
The suspects appeared to have not been accompanied by their lawyer. The prosecution had first requested for the matter to stand-down before Vilakati could communicate a new court date to resume the matter. Their next scheduled appearance on June 17, 2025.
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