More charges relating to mall robberies will be added to the six men accused of being part of a syndicate that has been conducting a reign of terror with robberies at malls across Gauteng.
This according to the investigating officer, Warrant Officer Johannes Last who led his evidence at the Randburg Magistrates’ Court on 1 November in the bail application of the accused.
Last told the court that dockets are being finalised, and alleged that all six accused can be linked to about 10 confirmed robberies with aggravating circumstances at malls across the province. The investigating officer told the court that police investigations were almost concluded and they expect to add more charges to the six accused within the next week (10 November).
Last also told the court that video footage has been sent for forensic analysis so as to confirm if it is the accused persons in some of the footage obtained at malls where robberies were committed. He alleged that he can recognise some of the accused persons from the video footage.
The six men were arrested at the end of September on allegations that they had planned to rob a cellphone store at Fourways Mall. They are charged with conspiracy to commit robbery with aggravating circumstances and possession of unlicensed and prohibited firearms.
One of the accused, Nkosinathi Masoa, has provisionally abandoned his bail application. It is not clear whether his bail abandonment had anything to do with the new evidence that the officer brought to court.
Last said border movements showed that the accused had frequently travelled to Zimbabwe over the past few months. After this information was revealed, the legal representative of the accused told the court that his client will provisionally abandon his bail application.
Masoa joins the other two accused, Sphiwe Madonsela and Thokozani Sibanda who have also abandoned their bail applications.
Bail application proceedings have been adjourned to 13 and 14 November at the request of the defence, in order to allow them to consult and take further instructions.
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