Prominent leader of the DA in the Eastern Cape, Mlindi Nhanha, faces the prospect of spending a long time behind bars if he is found guilty of attempted murder and aggravated assault.
DA MP faces attempted murder charges
The 51-year-old was released on R500 bail after a brief appearance at Alice Magistrate’s Court, on Tuesday. By then, Nhanha had spent a day locked up in jail.
According to NPA spokesperson Anelisa Ngcakani, Nhanha was arrested on Monday after his brother-in-law Mxolisi Daniel filed an attempted murder charge against him.
It’s alleged that the 51-year-old went into a rage in an intense scuffle with his wife at her family’s homestead in Dyamala, Alice. It’s unclear what prompted the argument but in the case docket filed by Daniel, it’s said that Nhanha allegedly assaulted his wife and fired gunshots in her brother’s direction after he had intervened.
“It is claimed that Nhanha became violent towards his brother-in-law and went to his car, took his firearm, shot at him but missed. Nhanha left the homestead and Daniel also left to report the matter at the Alice Police Station,” Ngcakani said.
The DA MP’s firearm has been seized by the State and is part of the evidence collected against him in the case. However, the NPA has noted that following the court appearance, Daniel “submitted a withdrawal statement citing that he and Nhanha resolved their differences.”
“The NPA will however study the docket and make a decision whether or not to proceed with the case,” Ngcukani added.
Nhanha will reappear in court on Monday 7 June 2021, where a decision will be made on whether the case will be pursued by the NPA.
What we know about Mlindi Nhanha
At this time, neither Nhanha nor the DA has issued a statement on the current status of the MP following these egregious criminal charges.
Nhanha is a newly recruited member of South Africa’s official opposition. Before he joined the DA, he was a firebrand member of COPE (Congress of the People).
As soon as he jumped ship, the 51-year-old was elected into the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) as the DA’s delegate, holding a voice in the Public Enterprises and Communications portfolio.