Government officials accused of murdering Mpumalanga forensic investigator granted R80,000 bail each

Two Mpumalanga government officials accused of the premeditated murder of a provincial forensic investigator have been granted bail of R80,000.

Two Mpumalanga government officials accused of the premeditated murder of a provincial forensic investigator have been granted bail of R80,000 each by the Pretoria Magistrates' Court despite the State's opposition.

Emmanuel Neverdie Mkhabela, 47, a protocol manager attached to the Office of the Premier in Mpumalanga, and Eckson Jabulani Mkhonto, 53, a vetting officer in the same office, face charges of premeditated murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.

The charges relate to the killing of Mabidi Mashaba, a forensic investigator employed by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government.

In a statement released by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the incident occurred on September 7, 2023, when Mashaba was travelling from Mpumalanga to his home in Pretoria.