Update: Bail application postponed in Wayne Smith case

JOHANNESBURG – The three suspects appeared at the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court on charges of kidnapping and hijacking, their bail application has been postponed to 6 August.

Naidine Sibanda

July 30, 2019

Placard by Parkview resident as they protest against bail against three suspects in connection to Wayne Smith missing case at Johannesburg Magistrates' Court Photo: Naidine Sibanda.

Update, 30 July, 1pm

Three suspects charged with the hijacking and kidnapping of missing Parkview resident Wayne Smith will only know if they will receive bail on 6 August after the magistrate accepted a request by the state prosecutor for a postponement.

The state prosecutor said they only received the case docket around 3pm on Monday, 29 July, and therefore requested that a postponement be granted. The defendants’ lawyer said the suspects had no previous convictions, therefore, bail should be granted as a matter of urgency.

The bail application is set to resume on 6 August in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court.

Update, 30 July, 10.30am

Friends, family and residents associations are gathering at the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court to protest against suspects being granted bail regarding the Wayne Smith missing persons case.

Three suspects are expected to appear on charges of hijacking and kidnapping during the bail hearing, this publication journalist Naidine Sibanda is tweeting live from the court, follow her tweets here

The people protesting the bail hearing of three suspects linked to Wayne's Smith's case have placards with the hashtag #BringWayneHome and #JusticeForWayne @RK_Gazette pic.twitter.com/d2v6OsapJX

— Naidine PS (@NaidinePs) July 30, 2019

Watch:

Friends, family and residents associations gather at the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court to protest against suspects being granted bail. @RK_Gazette #WayneCase pic.twitter.com/5iWbmhFjD7

— Naidine PS (@NaidinePs) July 30, 2019

Initial report, 30 July, 9.30am

A few weeks ago a group of people with a common aim of finding missing Parkview resident, Wayne Smith, gathered at the Parkview Police Station to seek answers as to why a suspect had reportedly been arrested and later on released.

The officer overseeing the case then, Captain Sifiso Mabizela had explained that the suspect had been released due to legal procedures that needed to be followed.

Today, the same group and possibly more people will be gathering at the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court to protest against three suspects being granted bail. A Facebook group called Bringwaynehome shared Charl Smith’s (husband of Wayne Smith) post which read, “Three suspects were arrested on charges of hijacking and kidnapping on Wayne’s case. They are appearing at court on 30 July for their formal bail hearing. All of the guys have apparently lawyered up. I would like to ask as many of you as possible to join me in front of the court to protest against these guys being granted bail.”

Parkview Police Station spokesperson, Captain Tintswalo Sibeko confirmed that three suspects had indeed been arrested but could not share further information due to the sensitivity of the case.

Wayne has been missing for over six weeks at this point and was last seen at his place of work in Rosebank on 12 June.

Details: Parkview Police Station 011 067 6000.

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