The much-awaited bail application by two alleged hit men and the wife of the victim in an attempted murder case was postponed last Thursday. The three were scheduled to apply for bail formally at the Vuwani Magistrate’s Court, but the legal representatives of the two alleged hit men applied for a further postponement.

The aborted bail application is a sequel to an incident during which a Thulamela Municipality´s Ward 17 ANC councillor, Alpheus Mmbudzeni Mulandana (54) of Dzwerani, was shot and critically injured in what was believed to be a hit ordered by his wife.

Mulandana was asleep at his home when the unknown intruders entered his house without any forced entry and shot him several times all over the body and left him for dead. His wife is alleged to have fled the house and to have sought refuge with a neighbour without telling them what had happened. It was only in the morning of the following day that she informed them about the incident and the councillor was taken to a local hospital, from where he was later transferred to another hospital where he is recuperating.

Rumours had been doing the rounds in the community that the wife had been in close contact with the co-accused before the arrests and the suspicion of the community grew by the day until they were arrested.

The wife, Kendy Mulandana (48), and the two alleged hit men, believed to be a known traditional healer, Wilson Mulaudzi (62) and his son Shumani (34), appeared at the Vuwani Magistrate´s Court for a scheduled bail application. Protestors who filled the court room to display their anger if the court granted the accused bail went back home disappointed as the application was postponed to March 17.

Before the court case started, a memorandum was handed to the acting head at the Vuwani magistrate´s court, citing reasons why they should not be granted bail. Magistrate Takalani Tshishonga responded by saying he would forward the memorandum to the relevant authorities. He urged members of the community to come up with evidence that would make a strong case against the suspects.

Magistrate Caswell Ntsane presided over the case.