Luke Fleurs’ murder: Case postponed to November

The six accused of the murder and hijacking of Kaizer Chiefs player Luke Fleurs are due to again appear in court on November 27.

The accused appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court last Friday, when the case was postponed.

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 six 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 the deceased’s hijacked vehicle.

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

In their previous appearance, Regional Magistrate Delize Smith noted that the accused were destroying evidence in the case while stripping the car, according to the evidence brought forward.

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

Sive (accused two) 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 spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane explained briefly that bail was denied as the accused posed a significant threat to the witnesses while the case is still under investigation.

The case was postponed to November 27 as further investigations are set to proceed and DNA testing needs to be conducted for Hlomikhawu, accused six.