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Justice for Muzi Manyathi: Three Suspects in Court for 2022 Murder

Published

3 months ago

July 11, 2025

Chiraag

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Nearly three years after ANC councillor Muzi Manyathi was gunned down in broad daylight, police in Mpumalanga have finally made a breakthrough, and justice may soon be served.

The Night of the Murder

On the cold evening of 4 November 2022, Muzi Manyathi, a PR councillor in the Mkhondo Municipality, was shot multiple times at a local petrol station. The attack occurred just after 6:30 pm, when Manyathi was inside the station’s kiosk. Paramedics arrived promptly, but he was declared dead at the scene.

Suspects Arrested, Case Moves Forward

For years, the investigation appeared to stall. However, this week, three men aged between 32 and 36 were arrested and appeared in the Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court, facing murder charges. The suspects were apprehended by Mpumalanga’s organised crime unit and linked to the case while in custody for unrelated offences. Their names remain withheld pending an upcoming identity parade, but police confirm the evidence against them is strong.

The court has postponed the matter to 22 September 2025 to allow for further investigation.

Details of the Crime

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, the suspects were driving a stolen Mercedes-Benz with fake Gauteng number plates on the night of the murder. The vehicle was seen moving suspiciously between fuel pumps without refuelling, coinciding with Manyathi’s presence inside the kiosk.

One suspect exited the vehicle, approached Manyathi at close range, and opened fire before the group fled the scene. The car was later found abandoned near a dam. Investigators discovered it had been reported stolen in Brakpan, Gauteng, seven months prior.

Community and Official Reactions

Mpumalanga’s acting provincial police commissioner, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, commended the officers for their persistence. “We made a vow that we will not rest until the perpetrators are brought to book,” he said. “We trust the suspects will be convicted and receive a harsher sentence.”

Local residents have expressed a mix of relief and frustration. Many shared memories of Manyathi on social media, urging the justice system to ensure accountability.

Political Violence Context

While police have not officially confirmed a motive, Manyathi’s murder fits a troubling pattern of political violence in parts of South Africa. Councillors in small towns, especially in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, often face threats linked to internal party struggles, service delivery conflicts, and factionalism.

The killing has heightened concerns in Mkhondo about the safety of public officials and the broader implications for local governance.

What to Expect Next

The suspects will return to court in September 2025. If positively identified during the identity parade and subsequently convicted, the case could bring long-awaited closure to Manyathi’s family and community.

For now, Mkhondo watches closely. A community mourns. And hope remains that justice, delayed but not forgotten, will be served.