12 men accused of Eastern Cape vigilante killing denied bail

Twelve men accused of seven counts of murder during a mob justice incident were on Tuesday denied bail by the Cacadu Magistrate’s Court in the Eastern Cape.

The twelve are charged with the murder of seven young men in Zingqolweni village in what is alleged to be an act of vigilantism.

According to a statement from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the twelve men were arrested following the murder of seven men, aged between 21 and 27. 

“Four of the men were certified dead on the scene after having been burnt to death by an angry mob on the afternoon of 14 April 2021. The fifth man succumbed to his injuries in hospital on the following morning,” reads the statement.

ALSO READ: Cape Town taxi violence continues as buildings burn

“As the police were busy at the scene where the five victims were burnt to death, they were alerted to two more bodies of young men found hanged at a nearby forest in the neighbouring area of Maqhashu.” 

Police investigation linked Bobotyane, Malibongwe Koki, 43, Phindile Mbhadeli, 45, Lindelo Maso, 56, Bangindawo Nyamela, 52, Sabelo Khala, 47, Ndumiso Bukwana, 37, Malibongwe Mgqeba, 48, Bathobele Phangiso, 36, Simphiwe Ngungeni, 54, Gcinumzi Jordan, 63, and Myekeni Matshawule, 58, to the murders.

They are all facing seven counts of murder, except Maso and Mgqeba, who are facing five counts of murder in relation to the five victims who were burnt to death.

It is alleged that the seven young men were rounded up and murdered in broad daylight in front of their relatives after they were accused of being behind the killing of at least 12 elderly people in Zingqolweni village since February 2021.

According to the NPA, two more elderly people have since been murdered in that village after the vigilante attack on the seven young men.

The court postponed the case to 20 August 2021 for further investigations.