KEY POINTS
- The two male defendants want bail to free them from imprisonment following their attempted SARS advocate Coreth Naude murder charge.
- Naude received fatal gunfire outside uMhlanga hotel when he participated in a tax inquiry.
- The State has made a case that both defendants are likely to run away from authorities while putting witnesses at risk.
The ruling on bail will be issued by the Durban Magistrate’s Court during the upcoming week regarding two suspects accused of attempting to kill South African Revenue Service (SARS) advocate Coreth Naude.
Attack on advocate naude
The fatal shooting occurred as Naude accessed the Premier Hotel in Umhlanga through its entrance on July 18, 2024. Durban served as her destination because SARS entrusted her with a mission to observe the tax inquiry involving Andile Mpisane and thirteen others.
On December 18 of the year authorities apprehended Siyanda Emmanuel Mbulwana who was 29 years old together with Mcebisi Corlen Runeyi who had turned 28 years old. The two men deny having any criminal history at the moment.
Conflicting backgrounds and state’s opposition to bail
Mbulwana identified himself as the Siso Cleaning and Projects director who runs both school transportation business and runs a shisanyama providing income of R18,000 monthly. The accused established his occupation as Nquks Lifestyle and Bottle Store supervisor and Sobs Shisanyama co-owner who receives R8,000 each month.
According to investigating officer Warrant Officer Praved Maharaj their backgrounds contradicted each other. Reliable information from the investigating officer showed Mbulwana has assault conviction (2016) and maintains no employment while raising two children and now faces unlawful firearm possession charges.
A total of four withdrawn cases exist alongside arrest warrants for theft involving a motor vehicle and possession of stolen property in the police record maintained by Maharaj for Runeyi.
According to Maharaj the daylight attack on Naude required no disguise and thus put surrounding people at risk among them a security guard who escaped.
Concerns over bail
An unstable employment situation combined with potential interference with witnesses convince the prosecution that these men should remain at the custody facility. The court will make its decision about bail for the accused men on Thursday during a ruling session.
