Accused in late mayor’s murder case advised to seek legal defence

The Village Voice

All pics supplied

Thirty seven year old Wiseman Baloyi, of Ntlhaveni Block H, who is the fourth accused in the case in connection of the murder of the late Collins Chabane Local Municipality mayor Moses Maluleke was advised by the court to seek legal defence.

Maluleke, who was known as Big Moss was gunned down at his homestead at Xikundu in the early hours of the evening on July 21. So far four men have appeared in court in connection with his murder.
There of the accused are from the neighbouring Thulamela local municipality and Baloyi is the first person from the Malamulele area to be arrested.

When he appeared in court on Monday the court told Baloyi that he was facing serious charges, namely robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, amongst others and was asked if he had a lawyer.Baloyi said he would conduct his own defence. The the court told him the cases he was facing are very serious and without a lawyer it would not be easy for him to apply for bail. He was told of two options, getting his own lawyer or getting a lawyer from the Legal Aid Board and he opted for the latter.

He was appearing alongside Isaac Mulaudzi and Mulaudzi already has a lawyer. The case was postponed to August 25 in order to give chance for Baloyi to be arranged a Legal Aid Board defence. Members of the ANC including members of the municipality’s political management team comprising acting mayor Shadrack Maluleke, speaker Thina Mbedzi and Chief Whip Eric Baloyi attended the court case. The family of the late mayor also attended the case. The case has drawn much interest from the public and ANC members who stage demos demanding that no bail is granted to the accused and the arrest of more people of there are more people in the case. They held placards calling for “Justice for Big Moss “