The six stand accused of the murder of Deokaran, who was shot outside of her home in Winchester Hills on August 23.
WATCH: Video of accused entrance
Affidavit of first accused
The bail application for the six accused was read into the record by their council, advocate Peter Wilkens. The first affidavit he read was the affidavit of the first accused Phakamani Hadebe.
In his affidavit, Hadebe claimed that the confession he gave to the police, in which he implicated former health minister Zweli Mkize, was false and was coerced out of him by police through threats and torture.
Hadebe claimed that arresting officers in unmarked cars took him to a secluded parking lot at Turfontein Racecourse where they repeatedly beat him as well as repeatedly suffocated him to the point of almost passing out to get a confession out of him.
He further claimed that the only thing that connects him to the crime is that he drove a white BMW similar to the vehicle used in the shooting, but claims he has no connection to this specific BMW.
He claims the State’s evidence against him is very weak.
Deokaran murder accused claim justice system fail them
In his affidavit, Hadebe further claimed the conditions in the cells in which they are currently kept until trial are dreadful. He claims that beds are not enough, a single toilet is available and that drugs are used indiscriminately.
He states that access to their legal representation was hampered greatly, as officers had to search for the individual accused, and only having access to the rooms from 10:00 to 14:00 strictly.
Affidavit of the second accused
The second accused, Zitha Radebe, in his affidavit claimed the only thing connecting him to the crime was that his name was given to police by one of his co-accused.
Radebe claimed that his co-accused was tortured by police into giving a false confession.
He also claims that he was incorrectly linked to the unlicensed firearm found on the scene of his arrest.
Tribute to Gauteng Department of Health senior official
Wilkins indicated that Radebe’s affidavit contains similar statements surrounding the conditions of their incarceration.
Affidavits of third and fourth accused
The third accused, Nhlangano Ndlovu, claimed that they were beaten by officers who had no identification at their arrest.
He claims his confession was only made out of fear of further beatings.
He also indicated that the only link between him and the crime was that he was fingered by a co-accused.
As per the previous accused, his statements surrounding their incarceration was similar and not read into the record.
Sanele Mbele, the fourth accused claimed that he was severely beaten at the time of his arrest, suffering a cut lip, chipped tooth and a lot of bleeding.
He claims that officers were very concerned due to all the blood but that in the arrest report no mention is made of his injuries.
He claims that his confession was coerced out of him due to fear of further beatings if he would not comply.
Like the previous accused, his statements about the incarceration was not read into the record.
The matter was stood down until November 5 for the continuation of bail proceedings.
Mkhize denies involvement
On November 3, Zweli Mkhize released a statement denying any involvement with the murder of Deokaran.
In the statement released the following is said:
“Dr Mkhize would like to take this opportunity to assure Ms Deokaran’s family and all South Africans who are still reeling from the trauma of this callous crime that he has absolutely nothing to do with it nor the alleged procurement irregularities which are believed to have driven it.”
