EMPD officer granted R3000 bail
Seven EMPD officers facing four counts of changes received R300 bail.
Tsakani – Seven EMPD officers were granted R3000 bail by the Tsakani Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
EMPD officers Laurens Daniel Venter (49), Nkululeko Walter Mtetwa (36), Daniel Eric van Wyk (39), Gideon Johannes Myburg (60), Justin Sibusiso Ncube (50), Thamodhran Pillay (50) and Eugene Phillip Raubenheimer (62) are facing four counts of murder, attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.It is alleged that on September 8, shortly before midnight, the seven EMPD officials raided a shack in Langaville Ext Six where four cousins, Mncedisi Shabalala, Dumisani Shezi, Zenzele Mgaga and Wandile Sibeko were sleeping.
Case against EMPD officers postponed
Dressed in private clothes, without identifying themselves, they allegedly started assaulting the cousins. Mncedisi and Dumisani managed to flee from the shack but were stopped in their tracks. Dumisani was shot twice in the leg, while Mncedisi was allegedly assaulted, strangled with a washing line wire and shot in the upper body. The officers then allegedly dragged his body behind one of the three shacks in the yard and left.
EMPD spokesperson Kelebogile Thepe said that they welcome the ruling on the bail application of the seven men.
She added that the judiciary has yet again shown its competency when the learned judicial official delivered his judgment, where he set aside continued detention as it would not be in the best interest of justice.
“He stated the members were not flight risks, had fixed addresses and were in employment by the department.
“We are urging the community to bear with the justice system and allow the law to take its course.
“We maintain the presumption of innocence of our members until the court proves their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt,” she explained.
She further added that they acknowledge the suspect’s release permitted by the interest of justice, subject to reasonable conditions.
The case was postponed to October 20 for further investigation and transfer to the regional court.
