MIDDELBURG — The family of Sibusiso Magagula says it has lost confidence in the criminal justice system after the murder case against Mbali Sindane (31) was struck off the roll in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 03 June 2026, when the State failed to produce the case docket.
“To add salt to the wound, there is no explanation,” said Thokozani Magagula, the deceased’s brother.
Magagula said the family arrived at court expecting the matter to proceed but were shocked when it was removed from the roll.
“We are not told why the docket was not brought to court. We went to seek answers from the investigating officer, only to discover he is on sick leave,” said Magagula.
“While I understand officers may be indisposed, it is standard practice for a detective commander to reassign dockets to ensure continuity. It boggles the mind why this was not done with this case. The failure to do so has denied my family justice and undermined confidence in the criminal justice system.”
Responding to questions from Highveld Chronicle, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Mpumalanga said the matter was re-enrolled after the docket was brought to court later the same day.
“After the case was removed from the roll during the morning court session, Masemola brought the docket to court at around 11:00,” said NPA Mpumalanga spokesperson Monica Nyuswa.
“The docket was immediately booked out to a prosecutor and the case has been re-summonsed to appear in the Regional Court on 27 July 2026.”
Nyuswa added that the NPA is investigating “the actions of the detective who did not ensure the docket was brought to court on 27 May 2026 and who brought it late on 03 June 2026”.
Sibusiso Magagula (32), an employee in Steve Tshwete Local Municipality’s Solid Waste Department, was allegedly stabbed during an argument over a bank card on 27 April 2025. He died at the scene.
Sindane was arrested and made her first court appearance on 29 April 2025. She initially abandoned her bail application. A month later, on 29 May 2025, she indicated that she would apply for bail.
The matter was postponed to 29 July 2025, when she was granted bail of R1 000. However, she was unable to raise the amount. On 06 August 2025, her family paid the reduced bail amount and she was released.
The matter was postponed on several occasions this year. Despite Sindane appearing in court on 04 February, 27 March and 27 May 2026, the absence of the docket on 27 May and again on 03 June resulted in the matter being struck off the roll.
The family said the missing docket had deepened their frustration and delayed the closure they hoped to achieve through the court process.
Sibusiso left behind a family still searching for answers.
“We are so disappointed and have lost faith in the system that was supposed to speak for Sibusiso,” said Magagula. “We will be seeking answers from both the NPA and the Provincial Detective Services.”
