By: ANG Reporter
The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) has welcomed the South Gauteng High Court judgment acquitting four policemen accused of murdering Mthokozisi Ntumba.
Ntumba was killed during a Wits University protest last year after he was shot by rubber bullets fired during the protests. He had just visited a doctor in Braamfontein when he was killed. He was not part of the student mass action but was leaving a doctor’s office.
After the state concluded its case in March, the four accused – Tshepiso Kekana, 27, Cidraas Motseothatha, 43, Madimetja Legodi, 37, and Victor Mohammed, 51, -brought their application for discharge of the charges against them in terms of section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
Delivering his judgement, Judge Mawabo Malangeni told the court that the state had not presented sufficient and tangible evidence linking the four policemen to Ntuba’s murder.
NPA spokesperson Phindi Louw said the NPA would study the judgment before making further pronouncements. “The judge ruled that there is insufficient evidence upon which a court acting carefully, may convict and therefore has acquitted all the accused of all the charges,” Louw said.
The four policemen seemed jovial after the ruling with their lawyers saying the judgement is a victory for justice. The policemen said they were happy to be cleared.
