The bail
application of Siphiwo Mngxali (51), the estranged husband of a Mthatha doctor,
continued before the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court today.
Mgxali is facing
two counts of attempted murder, theft, and breach of a protection order.
He was
arrested on March 8, 2023 and appeared in court on the same day, with the
prosecution applying for the matter to be postponed for seven days for bail
profiling.
On March 14,
he appeared in court again, but his formal bail application was postponed to
March 16 when he gave evidence for his release on bail and the matter was
rolled over to yesterday.
It is
alleged that on the night of February 26, 2023 the accused and an accomplice stole items, including television sets and bar fridges, from a property
operating as a B&B establishment in the suburb of Fort Gale in Mthatha.
“During the
alleged theft, shots were fired towards a helper and her partner, who were
sleeping in the property. Prior to the alleged theft, the accused’s
estranged wife had been granted an interim protection order by the court,
preventing him from entering these premises,” said National Prosecuting
Authority regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali.
Today, the defense attorney, Advocate Lusindiso Matoti, cross-examined the investigating officer as part of the bail application.
The courtroom was also filled to capacity by members of the ANC Women’s League and
non-governmental organization in support of the victim. They are all against
granting of bail to the accused.
The case
caught the public’s attention after a person claiming to be the daughter of the
victim used social media to call for justice for her mother while calling the
accused an abuser.
The bail
application continues.
