The five accused in the murder case of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius (59) appeared in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court today8 for their bail application hearing.

According to Highvelder News, the suspects — former police official Mthobisi Nkosi (40), Aubrey Xaba (35), Skhumbuzo Skhakhane (40), Nyiko Mujovo (30), and Valencia Skhosana (36) — were previously remanded in custody following their initial court appearance. They face charges of murder, illegal possession of a semi-automatic firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and defeating the ends of justice.

During the proceedings, Nkosi, Xaba, Skhakhane, and Mujovo abandoned their bail applications and will remain in custody until their trial or further legal proceedings. Skhosana’s bail application was postponed to next Thursday.

Earlier in the day, the courtroom was packed with members of the public, Pretorius’ family, and law enforcement officials as proceedings awaited the arrival of an attorney. When the magistrate, Catherine Hugo, entered at 11:36, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) submitted an application to take photos during the court session.

One of the defence attorneys objected, arguing that images of the accused could compromise their privacy, hinder the investigation, and lead to public bias if shared on social media. Prosecutor Charles Lloyd did not oppose the application, stating that the Hawks has its own media liaison and that court proceedings should remain transparent.

After considering both arguments, Hugo granted permission for the Hawks to take photos.

Pretorius (59), the commander of the Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit, was fatally shot on January 16. During earlier proceedings, Mpumalanga Hawks head Major General Nico Gerber commended investigators for their dedication and assured the public that no stone would be left unturned in building a watertight case.

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