The National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) stance in the prosecution of the six remaining men charged for varying roles in the murder of Siemens, comes as today marks exactly 5 years since Siemens was gunned down in the Preller Square parking lot. 

According to the NPA regional spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, the state's prosecution of six men, led by Adv. Johan de Nysschen, is optimistic that the accused before the court will be found guilty once the trial is finalised. Phaladi says they are aware that the matter has been in the court for a very long time but they hope that it will be finalised soon because they understand the impact it has on the family of the victim.

“We understand that family of the Mr Siemens was expecting justice as soon as possible but unfortunately with court processes it did not the way we wanted it to go but with regard to the accused before the court we are optimistic that a decisions that will be pronounced once the court makes judgment it will be guilty verdict,”Phaladi adds.

Today the long and anticipated continuation of the slain Siemens' murder trial, was dealt a blow yet again with another postponement. The Free State High Court Judge, Pitso Molitsoane, announced on Tuesday that once again the pandemic or another Covid-19 wave is upon us. Molitsoane mentioned that the state prosecutor, Johan de Nysschen, was ill and booked off for the rest of this week. He has postponed the case until Monday 16 May 2022, when it is expected to resume with the alleged Siemens murder mastermind, Stanley Bakili, taking to the stand for cross-examination by both De Nysschen and the defence lawyers.

Also read:#PrellerSquareShooting: Trial postponed

In January 2022, the state closed the case in the murder trial of slain of Siemens.

After Adv. De Nysschen closed the case, this then opened a window for the defence to bring a motion to seek an acquittal for all the suspects in the case since the trial started on 28 October 2019. 

Following the motion on acquittal in terms of section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act, only two of the eight suspects charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder, amongst others, were acquitted of all charges. Judge Molitsoane in March this year acquitted both court orderly, Kagiso Chabane, and police captain, Moeketsi Lesia.

Also read: #PrellerSquareShooting: Two murder suspects discharged

Siemens was shot four times assassination-style in the basement parking of the Preller Square Shopping Complex in May 2018. Ten men have been arrested for allegedly playing various direct and indirect roles in orchestrating and carrying out the murder. Eight accused stood trial while the others have turned state witnesses.

In 2020, the sentenced killer in the Siemens murder case, Mbebetho, said he met first accused Bakili in a night club in Bloemfontein. He said he was introduced to Bakili by a former SANDF member, Clive Tshivenga, who is also in the dock for the murder of Siemens.

Mbebetho told the court that first they were plotting the murder of Bakili’s girlfriend, only known as Lindiwe, who was testifying against him in an unrelated case. He, however, ended up agreeing to kill Siemens too after their botched attempt to kill Lindiwe.

Mbebetho testified that Bakili told him Siemens refused to sign some document and to pay out his share of money that they defrauded from the controversial Vrede Dairy Project.

Meanwhile, ten men have been arrested for playing various direct and indirect roles in orchestrating and carrying out the murder. Eight of those arrested stood trial since 2019, until Chabane and Lesia were acquitted.

The accused who were arrested between May 2018 and January 2019, are Stanley Bakili, Molebatsi Mogoera, Kagiso Chabane, Mojalefa Jali Molosi, Moeketsi Lesia, Karabo Tau, Sizwe Mpati, and Clive Tshivenga. Some of the accused - including two policemen, Mogoera, a military man, Tshivenga, and a repeat offender, Molosi – have been in custody since 2018 and 2019. Bakili has now been the suspect who has been in custody the longest - since his arrest on 10 May 2018, the day Siemens was shot.

The ninth man and assassin in the murder, Xolisile Mbebetho, confessed to the crime and was convicted in November 2018 for pulling the trigger that ended Siemens’ life. Mbebetho was sentenced to 22-years in jail by the High Court and, in turn, became the state’s key witness.

The defence team includes, amongst others, Mphafolane Koma, Mosioa Mazibuko, Dawie Reyneke, Lebohang Mokhele, Joseph Kgoelenya, and Masilo Koenane.

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