Riot Hlatshwayo and Sakhile Mokoena

Riot Hlatshwayo and Sakhile Mokoena

An SANDF soldier allegedly hired to kill a witness was released on R2000 bail.

Captain Chawane, 42, was not asked to plead in the Mhala magistrates' court in Thulamahashe, Bushbuckridge, on Monday.

The soldier had returned from a peacekeeping mission in Burundi last Friday.

He was arrested at his home in Rolle on Sunday for the murder of Sam Hlungwani, a witness in an assault and public violence case. Hlungwani, 38, was murdered on the night of August 24 at his house.

Chawane was arrested previously but released because of a lack of evidence.

Hlungwani's wife identified Chawane at an identification parade.

Mopani police spokesman, Superintendent Moatshe Ngoepe, said yesterday: "We are custodians of cases and we always make sure that every case is successful.

"But we can't keep a person behind bars before following certain sensitive issues."