Bail denied for 6 accused in Luke Fleurs’ murder and hijacking

The six accused in the murder and hijacking of Kaizer Chiefs player Luke Fleurs appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court for their bail application on Friday.

Bail was denied.

Fleurs (24) was a well-known football player who was shot after a hijacking at a petrol station in Constantia Kloof on April 3.

The accused, Ndumiso Mswane (26), Fernando Sive (25), Nhlakanipho Dlamini (21), Franky Xaba (25), Maredi Mphahlele (36), and Thembinkosi Hlomikhawu, were arrested in Slovoville, Soweto, on April 10 after the Provincial Investigating Unit and police received information on the whereabouts of Fleurs’ hijacked vehicle.

They are charged with murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and defeating the ends of justice.

Prosecutor Paseka Temeki claimed that recent evidence surfaced showing a conversation between Xaba (accused 4) and an unidentified person, suggesting that additional suspects may be involved in Fleurs’ murder.

Regional Magistrate Delize Smith noted that it is clear from the evidence, based on the first impression (prima facie), that the accused were destroying evidence in the case while stripping the car.

Smith also noted that Mswane (accused 1) willingly supplied false information about where he stayed at the time of his arrest and during his bail hearing, and called his brother to confirm that he stayed at the address he mentioned in his affidavit.

Sive (accused 2) also provided false information that he does not have a passport in his possession and has travelled outside the borders of South Africa. The court found he does indeed have a passport, has travelled to Mozambique, and is in the country illegally due to his permit expiring in 2020.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane says the denial of bail signals their commitment as the NPA to holding the accused of violent crimes accountable.

“Our priority is to protect our community and ensure that justice is served. Releasing them on bail could have posed a significant threat to our witnesses,” Mjonondwane says.

The case was postponed to June 27 for further information and investigation.