A popular Eastern Cape bishop arrested in connection with the murder of his son-inlaw has been granted bail after more than two months in prison.
The father-in-law of the late Coffee Bay Secondary School deputy principal Kholisile Baleni’s, Reverend Oliver Mandlenkosi Mgutyana, was granted R3 000 bail by the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Mgutyana, 68 – who is the African Gospel Church’s Western Transkei district head and superintendent – his daughter and Baleni’s widow Noluthando Baleni, 46, and Bonga Skolpati, 22, are all charged with the premeditated murder of Kholisile.
Although the elderly Baleni was granted bail, his two co-accused had frustration written all over their faces when bail was denied to them.
Noluthando is a teacher at Thandokazi Senior Primary School in Qunu and is the family’s breadwinner since her husband’s death.
The unemployed Skolpati resides at Ncerha Village One near East London.
Although Mgutyana, who oversees 17 pastors, has pleaded not guilty, the gun allegedly used to kill his son-in-law belonged to Mgutyana’s deceased younger brother, Mcoseleli Noxhaga, who used it to commit suicide in 2004. The gun has allegedly been in the custody of Mgutyana since it was handed to him by police in 2005.
State prosecutor Sicelosiviwe Mbeleki said ballistic reports show that the projectiles that were discharged, killing Kholisile, were from a firearm registered in Mcoseleli Noxhaga’s name.
Although the trio pleaded not guilty, the court has been told that Noluthando and Skolpati confessed to police.
Kholisile’s bullet-riddled body was found inside his minibus on the morning of October 28, the day he and his wife were to start divorce proceedings.
Magistrate Zandile Mbilase, in her 32-page judgment on the bail application, said among the reasons for granting Mgutyana bail were his age and his failing health.
“He is limping as he fell shortly before the arrest and suffered head injuries,” said Mbilase.
But the magistrate questioned the residential addresses that were given by Noluthando and Skopati to the police.
She said Noluthando gave an address she knew she could not be found at, while Skolpati did not inform police that he was staying in Willowvale at his girlfriend’s place.
The two had shown no exceptional circumstances that indicated that their release on bail would be in the interests of justice, she added.
EC bishop out on R3 000 bail
The father-in-law of the late Coffee Bay Secondary School deputy principal Kholisile Baleni’s, Reverend Oliver Mandlenkosi Mgutyana, was granted R3 000 bail by the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Mgutyana, 68 – who is the African Gospel Church’s Western Transkei district head and superintendent – his daughter and Baleni’s widow Noluthando Baleni, 46, and Bonga Skolpati, 22, are all charged with the premeditated murder of Kholisile.
Although the elderly Baleni was granted bail, his two co-accused had frustration written all over their faces when bail was denied to them.
Noluthando is a teacher at Thandokazi Senior Primary School in Qunu and is the family’s breadwinner since her husband’s death.
The unemployed Skolpati resides at Ncerha Village One near East London.
Although Mgutyana, who oversees 17 pastors, has pleaded not guilty, the gun allegedly used to kill his son-in-law belonged to Mgutyana’s deceased younger brother, Mcoseleli Noxhaga, who used it to commit suicide in 2004. The gun has allegedly been in the custody of Mgutyana since it was handed to him by police in 2005.
State prosecutor Sicelosiviwe Mbeleki said ballistic reports show that the projectiles that were discharged, killing Kholisile, were from a firearm registered in Mcoseleli Noxhaga’s name.
Although the trio pleaded not guilty, the court has been told that Noluthando and Skolpati confessed to police.
Kholisile’s bullet-riddled body was found inside his minibus on the morning of October 28, the day he and his wife were to start divorce proceedings.
Magistrate Zandile Mbilase, in her 32-page judgment on the bail application, said among the reasons for granting Mgutyana bail were his age and his failing health.
“He is limping as he fell shortly before the arrest and suffered head injuries,” said Mbilase.
But the magistrate questioned the residential addresses that were given by Noluthando and Skopati to the police.
She said Noluthando gave an address she knew she could not be found at, while Skolpati did not inform police that he was staying in Willowvale at his girlfriend’s place.
The two had shown no exceptional circumstances that indicated that their release on bail would be in the interests of justice, she added.
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