Update: ‘Oaks Centre gang’ in court
Eight men who all claim to reside in Mhluzi, arrested in the Oaks Centre in January, appeared in the Middelburg Magistrates Court.
Moshuwa Sipho Thipe (29) from Rockdale, Petrus Matlalepule Motaung (29) and Mbongeni Nqcobo (33) from Extension 5, Ernest Themba Masemula (26) from Extension 2, Cyprian Vusi Thwala (30), Xolani Ndlovu (34) and Wonderboy Mandlakhe Buthelezi (26) from Extension 8 and Slindelo Mzokhunyayo Mabanjwa (30) from Plein Section face several charges relating to their arrest.
The men are accused of housebreaking with the intent to rob and robbery for allegedly breaking into the Oaks Centre and robbing Enock Mabuzu of his cellphone on 22 January. They also face a charge of malicious injury to property for allegedly damaging an Absa ATM worth R260 000 and a charge of trespassing on the Oaks Centre premises.
During their lengthy bail application the men claimed that they were visiting a tavern near the Oaks Centre and that some of them went to the centre to withdraw money, after this they were attacked by police and security officers.
Thipe listed a previous conviction of housebreaking in 2011 for which he received a five year prison sentence. Motaung has previously been found guilty of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm for which he paid a R1 500 fine and Masemula has previously been convicted of culpable homicide in 2014 for which he received a suspended sentence and two counts of possession of cannabis for which he paid admission of guilt fines.
Thwala was found guilty of assault in 2012 and paid a R300 fine and Nqcobo of housebreaking in 2014 for which he paid a R800 fine.
Bail was denied for all eight accused.
Ben van Lingen, who represents Masemula and Buthelezi, indicated that his clients plan to apply for bail again based on new facts. The application was abandoned on the day it was supposed to happen.
Josef van Eeden, who represents Thipe and Motaung, also stood in for Leon van den Berg who represents Thwala. The court noted that Mr Van Eeden was unhappy about the fact that a postponement was granted for further investigation. Certain DNA results are still outstanding.
The accused will appear before court again next week Friday.
Thwala has since also been connected with a case of a business break-in at Mica in Volksrust.
Read other stories here:
Video: Man killed in cold blood
