The Nelspruit Magistrates Court has adjourned the bail hearing of sacked Mpumalanga MEC Mandla Msibi due to a bomb scare.
Former Mpumalanga Agriculture MEC Msibi appeared in court briefly on Wednesday morning on charges of double murder and attempted murder. This is related to a shooting in August in which two people were killed and one wounded.
A group of his fans congregated outside the court chanting for his reinstatement. Msibi was sacked on Tuesday night by Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane. She said the sack was necessitated because of the serious nature of the allegations that were levelled against him.
Msibi and four others are facing two charges of murder and one of attempted murder. Two suspects were released on R20,000 bail last week. While Msibi and the other two suspects have been applying for bail.
The police ordered everyone to vacate the court premises so that a search operation can be conducted. It is not clear when the bail application will resume.
The ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) resolved on Tuesday that Msibi should step aside as MEC, PEC member and provincial elections manager.