2 000 times NO BAIL
THE voice of more than 2 000 residents of Mokopane brought the town to a standstill last Friday in their fight against the opposing of bail.
MOKOPANE – THE voice of more than 2 000 residents of Mokopane brought the town to a standstill last Friday in their fight against the opposing of bail.
Samuel Matjila, Patrick Sekhu and Desmond Mashabane, three well-known taxi-owners and members of the Mahwereleng Taxi Association, application for bail was denied in the Mokopane magistrate court.
The three suspects are accused for the senseless murder of Charles Mgidi, a member of the Mogalakwena Residents Association (MRA), on April 4.
About 2 000 residents marched to court on Friday morning where strict security measurements were put in place by the Mokopane Police. The crowd sang revolutionary songs in support of their cause of opposing bail.
The states first witness was William Ramogobedi, an investigating officer from Polokwane.
He testified that it was pre-meditated murder as one of the witnesses stated that Sekhu said at the memorial service of Sello Gideon Fatane on April 2 that they will deal with Mgidi after he allegedly accused the suspects of Fatane’s murder.
Two days later Mgidi was shot in cold blood at the Caltex garage on the corner of Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela Street. He made it clear that he was against the granting of bail and said that their is a strong link between the murder of Fatane and Mgidi.
Fatane, a taxi-owner, was shot and killed on March 27 in front of his house. He alleged that a hit man killed Fatane.
Ramogobedi said that on April 4 Mgidi and two other state witnesses arrived at the Caltex garage known to the residents as a taxi rank.
The three suspects, heavily armed, approached the vehicle and Sekhu allegedly assaulted the driver and took the keys out of the ignition. Mgidi and the two witnesses jumped out of the vehicle an attempt to run away as they were frightened.
At this point the three suspects fired shots at them and Mgidi was shot in the chest and died on his way to the hospital.
Ramogobedi also stated that three cartridges of 9mm guns were found at the scene. All of these cartridges belonged to the suspects. He testified that the community strongly opposing bail as the residents attempted to burn down Mashabane’s house and as a result one of his security guards were killed. “The suspects will never be safe if bail is granted.”
The defence attorney stated to Ramogobedi that this was not a pre-planned murder as it was in broad daylight.
The suspects were the ones that called the police after the incident and voluntarily handed over their guns to the police. This was denied by Ramogobedi as he said the police confiscated the guns.
Percy Nketsi, chairman of the MRA, testified that the community is opposing bail because they feel that they will not be safe if the suspects were released on bail. He handed in a petition with 191 signatures to show that the community strongly opposes bail. “We also believe that these suspects should be investigated for the murder of Fatane and the late Piet Pale, former chairman of the MRA who was shot near his house last year.”
The total shutdown of the town was acknowledge by Nketsi and he said that everyone is standing together in this cause.
The hearing ended with magistrate, Annalies Swanepoel denying bail.
Outside of court the residents were jumping up and down with excitement about the ruling. On Monday morning the deliverance of reasons by magistrate Swanepoel were given (See page 2.)
