This is not Msibi’s first brush with the law, He was acquitted in a separate attempted murder case three months ago. Msibi was arrested in Mbombela on Monday, Following a fatal shooting earlier this year when two people were shot dead, while a third person was left wounded.

While it remains uncertain what Msibi’s role in the fatal shooting was, he is still the third suspect to be linked to the case. Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane dismissed Msibi from duty in a media briefing on Tuesday. “I hereby wish to announce that I have decided, after consultation with the ANC leadership in the Province, to release MEC Mandla Msibi, liable for Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs, from his position within the Provincial Executive Council, with immediate effect.

“The decision to release MEC Msibi has been taken into consideration of the seriousness of the charges he is facing, as well as the impact that some will have on his work as an Executive Authority in government. After all, it is to be expected that he should dedicate a fair amount of time to the case he is facing,” Mtshweni-Tsipane told journalists.

Msibi will however remain an ordinary member of the provincial legislature. Mtshweni-Tsipane said she remains receptive to Msibi returning to serve in the cabinet should he be cleared of wrongdoing. The 45-year-old politician will spend a second night in police custody while proceedings for his formal bail application are expected to resume on Wednesday. He faces two charges of murder and a charge of attempted murder.