faniem@caxton.co.za
It’s only a couple of hours left before the suspect in the Taegrin Morris killing make his third court appearance, for a formal bail application.
Thamsanqa Twala made his second court appearance on November 7, for a formal bail application, but the hearing was postponed to November 14.
Twala faces several charges, including murder and hijacking.
Twala told the court that he had appointed a new lawyer to represent him, adding that the lawyer would be ready to proceed with the bail application tomorrow.
The residents say they want the man behind the death of Taegrin to be denied bail.
Reiger Park residents packed the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court, when the suspect made his first and second court appearance.
The people who turned out to support the Morris family say they were taken by surprise when they return to court on November 7, and found police controlling admission to the court, which was also surrounded by razor wire, and only allowed 15 people into the courtroom.
They expressed anger at the security arrangements in place at the court.
Speaking on behalf of the community after the brief hearing on November 7, community leader Hein April, harshly lambasted authorities for barring the supporters from entering the courtroom.
“When we are locked out of the system, it is not right. We have come to support the Morris family and see justice done. We want to be part of the process. We gave information to the police before the suspect was arrested,” said April.
He also claimed police and security manhandled residents who came to the court.
April said no matter how many police were at the court on November 14, when Twala is expected to make a formal bail application, community members would turn out in numbers.
“Next week we are going to come again to show our support against violence, especially against women and children, in our community,’ concluded April.
Residents wearing T-shirts bearing the face of Taegrin cheered and shouted “No bail, no bail”, and “genoeg is genoeg (enough is enough)”.
Taegrin died when his parents’ VW Golf was hijacked in Reiger Park in July.
Three armed men apparently approached the vehicle in which Morris, his sister and parents were travelling in, and ordered the family out.
The little boy was caught in his seatbelt and dragged along the road as the hijackers drove off.
The car was later found abandoned outside the Municipal-owned dilapidated building at 39 Market Street.
– @FanieBoksburg
