Marco Schalekamp’s bail application was denied in the White River Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, after it was ruled that he had failed to provide proof of any exceptional circumstances that would justify his release.

While Magistrate Nakedi Malomane was delivering the bail judgment, police raided the accused’s house on Mooiland Farm near Barberton.

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A large quantity of ammunition, explosives and a smoke grenade were discovered in Schalekamp’s rented home when SAPS officers executed a search warrant.

“Our members recovered explosives and a large number of rifle rounds when they raided the house. The confiscated items will form part of our investigations,” said the Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli.

The investigating officer, Sergeant Mxolisi Keis, previously testified that Schalekamp held licences for seven firearms, including five automatic assault rifles and two handguns.

Mdhluli said one of the handguns had been reported stolen in Cape Town, while the second was impounded by police following the shooting incident in which Pieter Burger was killed and Arno van Niekerk wounded.

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Keis told the court he did not know the whereabouts of the rifles, but the defence explained that three were in storage and two were at a gun shop.

Schalekamp, who sustained gunshot wounds in the incident, stands accused of premeditated murder and attempted murder following a shooting that took place near the White River Rugby Club in the early hours of June 5. The person responsible for shooting Schalekamp remains unidentified.

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Malomane noted in her judgment on Tuesday that the onus rested on Schalekamp to demonstrate exceptional circumstances to justify his release in the interests of justice.

During proceedings, Schalekamp argued that he was the primary caregiver of his five-year-old son and submitted this as a factor in favour of bail. The court, however, was unconvinced.

“While the court takes the rights of children seriously,” Malomane said, “it remains unclear who cares for the child when the applicant is abroad. He failed to take the court into his confidence regarding the child’s whereabouts and safety and was evasive in this regard. The court, therefore, does not accept this as an exceptional circumstance.”

Schalekamp was remanded in custody pending his next court appearance on August 21.