The Evander Magistrate’s Court denied Elias Mhlanga (52) bail for the second time on January 17.
Mhlanga is alleged to be the mastermind behind the assassination of taxi boss Fannie Khumalo in November 2021 at his home in Kinross.
It was reported that the deceased was preparing his minibuses to transport commuters when four armed men shot him in the chest on the morning of November 20.
Hundreds of taxi operators gathered outside the Evander courthouse to demand that Mhlanga not be freed on bail.
Mhlanga was first denied bail last January when he appeared with his co-accused, Vuyisile Buthelezi (37).
Buthelezi refused to apply for bail, but in August, he joined another co-accused, Khulekani Masondo, in a bail application.
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Their application was denied and the case was referred to the Delmas High Court for trial. In the meantime, the key witness for the state died last month after a short illness.
A taxi boss also suspected of being involved in the murder allegedly killed himself on January 20 last year before the police could arrest him.
According to a reliable source, the police traced the man to a house in Villiers. This taxi owner was to have appeared before the Evander Magistrate’s Court with Mhlanga and Buthelezi in January.
Another taxi boss allegedly involved in Khumalo’s murder killed himself at his home in eMbalenhle in December 2021.
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The chairperson of the Vukanini Taxi Association, Fanyana Sibanyoni, welcomed the court’s decision.
He said the court respected them as an association, and they respected the justice system by not taking the matter into their own hands.
“In life, we sometimes differ as humans but it is wrong to kill someone if they don’t agree with you. When
Mhlanga requested his second bail application, we thought he would bring new evidence to court. That is why we reserved time to come to court and because we want justice for our member (Khumalo),” said Sibanyoni.
The murder trial continues at the Delmas High Court on August 23.
