Goje Township murder accused in fresh bail fight

By Delisa Magagula

Deputy Sheriff Vusi Mncina, accused of killing four women in Ezulwini in 2023, is back in court seeking bail, arguing that delays in his trial amount to ‘new facts’ that should secure his release.

Mncina is facing multiple counts of murder after the shooting incident at Goje Township in 2023, where his girlfriend and three other women were killed during the early hours of the morning.

The women were reportedly attending a gathering when the accused allegedly opened fire Following the incident, Mncina handed himself over to the police.

His arrest and the nature of the charges drew widespread public attention due to both his position as a Deputy Sheriff and the number of victims involved.

In his latest bail application, Mncina’s defence team told the court that the prolonged delay in bringing the matter to trial was infringing on his constitutional right to a speedy trial.

They submitted that the stalled proceedings constituted new facts, and that the accused should be granted bail under these changed circumstances.

The Crown opposed the application, arguing that no substantive new evidence had been presented to alter the court’s previous bail ruling.

Prosecutors maintained that the seriousness of the offences, the potential flight risk, and the need to ensure justice for the victims justified continued detention.

The prosecution also pointed out that while delays had occurred, they were not unusual in complex murder cases involving multiple victims and witnesses.

The court is expected to hand down its ruling on the application at a later date.

The killings occurred at Goje Township, Ezulwini, in 2023. It is alleged that Mncina confronted his girlfriend and the other women over accusations of infidelity before fatally shooting them.