PAUL Manyathela (23), Clement Mosweu (26), Lebogang Mdebele (24) and Bheki Nkosi (25), accused of murdering EMPD Officer Martiens Bann, appeared in Kempton Park Magistrate’s Regional Court Two on Tuesday morning.
An indictment will be served on December 14 and the case has been transferred to the Johannesburg High Court.
No bail has been given and the four will remain in custody.
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The accused are allegedly responsible for taking the life of Officer Bann on Saturday, July 11 just after 1pm, as he attempted to assist his neighbours during a house robbery.
Bann’s stepdaughter, Mariana and her husband, Pieter Venter attended the court proceedings.
“Nobody is supporting us anymore,” said Mariana. “They must just bring back the death penalty,” her husband said.
Mariana said her mother, Engela, was in Durban. “They were supposed to be on holiday together, they had planned this. Sometimes she copes but sometimes it’s hard,” she added.
“We are going to miss him around the festive table, he was there for the whole community and not just his family.”
The Venters have been travelling from Randfontein on the West Rand to attend the court proceedings.
Sebenza CPF chairman, Andrew Mosesi, who was also at the court proceedings, said: “It is unfair on the victims, they have to come to court every time, it’s very strenuous for the family. Every time we see them it reminds us of what’s been done. If only criminals knew the pain they caused.”
“It takes seconds to kill a person and years for the perpetrators to be brought to book,” he added.
Mosesi and the Venters were the only people who attended the court proceedings.
