The four men and one woman accused of the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius, the commander of the Ermelo Vehicle Investigation Unit, again appeared in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

The case was postponed to February 18 for their formal bail applications.

The accused, including a former police official, Mthobisi Nkosi (40), and Aubrey Xaba (35), Skhumbuzo Skhakhane (40), Nyiko Mujovo (30) and Valencia Skhosana (36), were remanded in custody.

Pretorius was ambushed and killed on January 16.

A multidisciplinary team, established by the acting provincial police commissioner, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, consisting of the Hawks, detectives, intelligence members, and a security company, managed to track the suspects to Mbombela, where they were arrested the day after the murder.

The five accused first appeared in court on January 20.