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Two men plead not guilty to murder of Bushbuckridge traffic chief

Published

Charles Mbongiseni Mabuza and Saico Junior Ngoma went on trial in the Mbombela high court on Wednesday. The state is accused of presenting its case that they killed Judas Lens Chiloane during a robbery in White River in March 2023.

Mabuza is 36 and Ngoma is 46. Both pleaded not guilty to all charges. The state is now presenting its evidence-in-chief, and the trial is scheduled to continue until 13 November.

The state alleges the killing happened on 11 March 2023. It says the accused approached a vehicle with Chiloane and another person inside. It says they told the occupants to drive to a bushy area and demanded money and his service firearm.

The state alleges the accused then shot Chiloane. It says they fled with a cellphone, money, a laptop and his firearm. Chiloane was the chief traffic officer of Bushbuckridge.

Key facts

Who
Charles Mbongiseni Mabuza (accused, 36, pleaded not guilty); Saico Junior Ngoma (accused, 46, pleaded not guilty); Judas Lens Chiloane (Bushbuckridge chief traffic officer, murder victim); Monica Nyuswa (National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson)
What
Two men accused of killing Bushbuckridge chief traffic officer Judas Lens Chiloane during an alleged robbery in White River in March 2023 have gone on trial in the Mbombela high court and pleaded not guilty to all charges. The state is presenting its evidence-in-chief, and the trial is scheduled to continue until November 13.
When
28 October 2026
Where
Mbombela, White River, Mpumalanga
Status
Reported

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