AN alleged eSikhaleni 4×4 hijacking syndicate boss appeared briefly at the eSikhawini District Magistrate Court.
Bongumusa Shabalala (34) was hauled in after the Empangeni Cluster Task Team found him in his car at Mzingwenya area in June.
He was charged with multiple counts of hijacking, house robberies and for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
Shabalala was released on parole in February after serving time for murdering a police officer.
During the police line-up in July at the Richards Bay police station, community members claimed he had broken into their homes and robbed them of their belongings and vehicles at gunpoint.
More charged were then brought against him.
On his last court appearance last month, Shabalala requested to be kept in jail, as he feared for his life.
The State brought forward information that there were video recording of Shabalala when he allegedly committed the crimes.
The case was postponed to 11 November, to provide the State with more time to complete the investigation and video analysis.
4 SEPTEMBER
Hijacking kingpin to remain in custody
A MAN believed to be the mastermind behind eSikhaleni house robberies and 4×4 hijackings, cancelled his bail application at the eSikhaleni Regional Court on Wednesday.
Bongumusa Shabalala (34) requested to be kept in jail as he feared for his life.
He was released on parole in February after serving time for the murder of a police officer and a string of hijackings in the area.
But he was re-arrested at the Mzingwenya reserve in eSikhaleni in June with two unlicensed firearms and ammunition in his vehicle.
During the police line-up, more charges of hijacking and robbery were brought against him after community members identified him as the man responsible for house robberies and hijacking in the area.
The told the court that he went into their houses and demanded their belongs and vehicles at gunpoint.
On Wednesday Shabalala insisted he should remain in custody until the day of the trial.
