MIDDELBURG – A former Hawks captain, Welcome Gcabashe and 15 other co-accused appeared before the Middelburg High court today for kidnapping and attempted murder, among other charges.
The 16 accused were beginning their trial today for 11 counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, assault, kidnapping, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit crime and malicious damage to property. However, only 15 were present in court following the death of one of the accused, Clifford Male who was allegedly murdered in Gauteng province.
Gcabashe, December Nkosi ( 31), Male, Jackie Matlala (41), Lekele Lekola (46), Oupa Molapo (34), Tamsanqua Khubeka (36), John Clack (27), Skhumbuzo Khathi (35), Enock Khumalo (53), Sibusiso Shabangu (39), Nathaniel Hlathi (44), Richard Ngomane (33), Titus Maila (45), Teenage Mabogoane (34) and Desmond Mohlamonyane (43) allegedly assaulted and kidnapped SBV employees and robbed the cash in transit vehicle of more that R1 million.
According to the police, the group that was armed with firearms forced the SBV employees into a car and drove them to an unknown location where they drugged them with unknown toxic substance. The bail application for 15 of the accused has been extended while Clack was denied bail and remains in police custody.
All accused’s properties are attached to Assert Forfeiture Unit to the value of R15Million Rand. The group will appear again before the High court on Wednesday for trial. “The bail application for the 15 has been extended to Wednesday for all accused to have their legal representatives present in court,” said spokesperson for the Hawks in Mpumalanga Captain Dineo Sekgotodi.
