The media was barred from reporting on proceedings of murder accused Sandile Mantsoe’s bail application to prevent the names of witnesses being revealed.
Mantsoe appeared for the second time in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on 24 May to apply for bail.
He is charged with the murder of Karabo Mokoena, whose burnt body was found in a shallow grave in Lyndhurst.
Read: VIDEO: Karabo Mokoena’s alleged killer charged with murder and defeating the ends of justice
Mokoena went missing on 28 April and her body was found on 29 April. Her father, Tshepo Mokoena announced her death on social media.
She was laid to rest on 19 May at the West Park Cemetery in an emotional send-off attended by the community, friends, family and government officials.
At the bail hearing, the media’s application to take photographs and report on proceedings was denied. Both the State and the defence teams objected to the media application, citing that the case was still in its early stage.
Read: An emotional send-off for Karabo
“During the first appearance of the accused, the media turned the court into a media circus taking pictures as if it’s a red carpet,” said Mantsoe’s defence lawyer. He insisted on the total exclusion of the media, barring them from taking photographs and reporting on the bail application.
The State also objected to the application, citing that they fear that the names of the witnesses might come to the fore.
The magistrate granted the request and postponed the matter to 9 June to allow the defence team further consultations with the accused.
Do you think Sandile Mantsoe should be given bail? Share your views with us…
This is what some of you had to say:
https://twitter.com/Truth2Come/status/867352473689837568
You don't judge court cases they are all meritorious. If he is granted bail it will be based n the evidence presented to grant and deny bail
— Neo Semoko (@Neo_Semoko) May 24, 2017
