This comes after the NPA admitted that there is not enough evidence to convict Mbatha for the murder of slain Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, which prompted Magistrate Daniel Thulare to strike the case off the roll.
Mbatha’s tearful mother exited the court building crying.
EMPD officers escorted Mbatha’s mother and relatives as they made their way to a metro police minibus parked outside the court.
She covered her face with a scarf as she walked towards the waiting police kombi, while other relatives cursed journalists for taking pictures of Mbatha’s mother outside court.
Some of his relatives were overheard saying: “We always knew police had arrested the wrong man”.
Meyiwa supporters expressed their anger upon receiving the news that the case against Mbatha had been thrown out of court due to lack of evidence.
The decision to withdraw the cases was made in Mbatha’s absentia, apparently to protect him from the media and public view.
“We have public prosecutors, not public persecutors,” said Thulare as he was about to announce his decision.
Thulare admitted that his decision would make some people angry and frustrated.
“We cannot keep the accused in custody when all these questions exist,” said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesman Nathi Ncube.
He added that the withdrawal was part of the process, and said that the NPA had a Constitutional responsibility to withdraw the case and denies this is an embarrassment.
“At this stage, there was no prospect of a successful prosecution. At the time that the docket was first presented to us, there was sufficient evidence to put the matter on the roll.”
Ncube stated that investigators are following up on the new information.
Meanwhile, supporters of slain Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, expressed their anger upon receiving the news that the court case involving the man accused Meyiwa’s murder has been thrown out of court due to lack of evidence.
The group of supporters holding posters bearing pictures of Meyiwa, gathered outside the cordoned off court premises, ahead of the brief court hearing. They began chanting slogans in support of the Meyiwa family.
“I understands the anger of the public and finds it natural, but we should accept that there is not enough evidence to put the accused on trial,” said the Magistrate.
Meyiwa was killed in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, while visiting his singer and actress girlfriend Kelly Khumalo last month.
Two men allegedly entered the house on October 26 around 8pm, and demanded cellphones before shooting Meyiwa and running away. – @FanieBoksburg
Meyiwa was killed in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, while visiting his singer and actress girlfriend Kelly Khumalo last month. Two men allegedly entered the house on October 26 around 8pm, and demanded cellphones before shooting Meyiwa and running away. – @FanieBoksburg
