Wolk murder accused remains in custody after bail is denied

Three men accused of the murder of
racing champion Robert Wolk appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on October 2, with one accused denied bail while two others await legal representation.

Khotso Richard Mashao, Hlangananani Shezi and Muziwethu Mthethwa are facing charges relating to Wolk’s murder.

Mashao’s bail application was heard in court, while Shezi and Mthethwa appeared in connection with their legal representation.

Also read: Three arrested in connection with Robert Wolk shooting

Wolk was shot dead on September 16 in Esther Park, Kempton Park, while travelling to Cape Town for a racing event.

According to Sebenza SAPS, Mashao was arrested on the night of September 18, while Shezi and Mthethwa were arrested on the morning of September 19.

Mashao denies involvement

During Mashao’s bail application, his legal representative read an affidavit in which Mashao denied any involvement in Wolk’s murder.

According to the affidavit, Mashao was arrested at his workplace on September 18 while working a night shift and taken to Sebenza Police Station.

The affidavit alleged that Mashao was severely assaulted while in police custody and forced to confess to the murder. It further alleged that police took his cellphone and, when his partner called, told her that Mashao was still at work.

These allegations have not been tested in court.

Mashao’s legal representative told the court that Wolk and Mashao were colleagues, with Wolk being Mashao’s senior. The affidavit stated that the two got along and that Mashao had no reason to harm him.

Also read: Man shot dead after alleged bumper-bash incident in Esther Park

The defence further submitted that Mashao had never previously been arrested, had no pending cases and had no restraining order against him.

As part of the bail application, the defence argued that Mashao did not pose a danger to the public and would not interfere with the investigation or approach witnesses.

Mashao offered R5 000 bail and undertook to comply with any conditions imposed by the court.

State opposes bail

The state opposed the bail application, presenting evidence it said linked Mashao to Wolk’s murder.

According to the state, investigators have a voice note in which Mashao allegedly confesses to Wolk’s murder.

The state further alleged that Mashao had hired two hitmen to eliminate four people at his workplace. It alleged that Mashao went to the workplace with the two men but did not find the intended targets.

According to the state’s version, Mashao and the two men subsequently spotted Wolk driving away and followed him.

The state alleged that the vehicle in which they were travelling collided with Wolk’s vehicle. When Wolk got out to inspect the damage, he was allegedly shot.

The state told the court that a blue Volkswagen Jetta was seen fleeing the scene and was later located at a hostel in Vusi Musi, Thembisa.

Mthethwa was allegedly found in possession of the keys to the vehicle.

According to the state, further investigation established that the Jetta had been hijacked and that its owner had been shot seven times. Mthethwa was subsequently arrested on charges relating to the hijacking and murder.

The state further alleged that Mthethwa told investigators that he had taken Wolk’s cellphone to a Nigerian national.

The individual allegedly confirmed to police that Mthethwa was the person who had brought him the cellphone.

According to the state, Mthethwa then led police to Shezi.

The state alleged that Shezi told investigators that he knew about the shooting and claimed that he was the person who shot Wolk.

The state further told the court that, when questioned about the firearm, Shezi led police to his brother’s home.

A firearm was allegedly recovered behind a toilet, wrapped in a blue towel.

According to the state, the firearm was a black 9mm Beretta with 17 rounds of ammunition.

Bail refused

The magistrate found that the state had presented a strong case against Mashao, although the motive for the alleged murder had not been established.

Mashao’s bail application was therefore refused and he remains in custody.

Mashao is expected to return to the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on November 10 for further investigations.

Meanwhile, the legal representatives who were expected to represent Shezi and Mthethwa informed the court that they would no longer be representing the two accused.

The court advised the two men to seek alternative legal representation.

Shezi and Mthethwa told the court that they would like to be represented by state-appointed lawyers.

They are expected to return to the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on October 6 for the appointment of legal representatives.

The matter remains before court and the allegations against the accused have not yet been tested at trial.