PRETORIA – The unravelling investigation into the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Leroy Bruwer (49), has resulted in the revival of old cases against three persons who appeared in the Nelspruit Regional Court on Tuesday, 06 April 2021.

Elliot Sindane (69), Elvis Mlimi (50), Mabuthi Khoza (35) were initially part of five suspects arrested over a decade ago after they were implicated on charges of illegal hunting, illegal possession of firearms, illegal rhino horns dealings and trespassing at the Kaapmuiden Dalton farm.

When the accused were profiled it turned out that they had outstanding cases against them that were never finalized. These cases were previously investigated by Skukuza detectives. The two outstanding cases that were registered in August and September of 2011 respectively were consequently struck off the court roll in 2012 under dubious circumstances.

The relentless investigators saw the need to zoom into the three suspects in the ongoing investigation into the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Bruwer who was shot and killed whilst on his way to work along the R36 road between Nelspruit and Sabie on the 17 March 2020. The investigations into the old cases were finalised last year and presented to the National Prosecuting Authority for a decision which resulted in the trio being served with court summons to appear in court.

All three are out on a warning and their case has been postponed to Monday, 17 May 2021, for legal representatives. Meanwhile, the previously lone arrested suspect in Lieutenant Colonel Bruwer murder’s case Sinovuyo Salela (28) remains in custody and is expected to appear in the Mbombela High Court for trial on 26 July 2021.

Source: South African Police Service