Harry Gwala district mayor Mluleki Ndobe is a relieved but angry man.
Addressing media outside the Umzimkhulu Magistrate's Court on Monday, where a charge of murder in connection with the 2017 death of ANC Youth League general secretary Sindiso Magaqa was provisionally withdrawn against him, Ndobe said he wouldn't go into the details of the case.
Ndobe, Sbonelo Myeza, 39, Mbulelo Mpofana, 34, and Zweliphansi Skhosana, 48, were charged after the state alleged that they had acted with "common purpose" in having premeditated the murder of Magaqa.
They also faced two counts of attempted murder.
According to the charge sheet, the second and third counts related to the attempted murder of Jabulile Msiya and Nontsikelelo Mafa on July 13 2017, the same day Magaqa was gunned down.
However, on Monday, control prosecutor Sohana Moodley told the court that the state was provisionally withdrawing the charges against Ndobe and Skhosana.