The man accused of the murder of Rugby player Thulane Popoyi has been set free.
Sydney Moshapo appeared briefly in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on 20 February.
The State withdrew the murder case as no new evidence had been brought forward. The investigating officer also failed to appear in court during the last three appearances.
“I am really unhappy about the South African justice system. I don’t know if we will ever have closure of knowing who killed him and why they did it in such a brutal manner. He was killed in such a brutal way. We need to know why the State let this go and what the next step is,” said Noxolo Popoyi, niece to Thulane.
Moshapo, the owner of Dollar Table bar in Melville, first appeared in court ] on 7 October last year.
Popoyi had been found brutally murdered at the back of the bar. He had multiple stab wounds and his chest had been hacked open.
Popoyi was at West Park Cemetery on 14 October 2014.
The 29-year-old was out with his friends and disappeared after a while.
Although Moshapo is a free man, it may be difficult for him to own a bar in Melville in future as and his trading licence was cancelled.
