Rustenburg-The North West High Court in Mahikeng has dismissed an appeal by former Rustenburg mayor Matthew Wolmarans and his former bodyguard, Cosatu said on Tuesday.

“Cosatu North West welcomes the outcome of [an] appeal of the accused in the murder of Moss Phakoe, passed by a panel of judges yesterday [Monday],” said Congress of SA Trade Unions spokesperson Solly Phetoe.

“Cosatu has always believed in the country’s justice system and said we would comment after the appeal case had been heard by the high court.”

Wolmarans’s former bodyguard Enoch Matshaba was sentenced to life imprisonment last year, after the court found he had pulled the trigger and killed Phakoe in the driveway of his Rustenburg North house on 14 March 2009.

Wolmarans, then an ANC North West provincial executive committee member, was sentenced to 20 years for masterminding the hit.

The two men were granted leave to appeal against their convictions and were released on R100 000 bail each in May pending the outcome.

“Cosatu hopes that the judgment brings some relief to the family of comrade Moss and that the sentences will be instituted quickly,” Phetoe said.

– SAPA