A man accused for the murder University of Pretoria student told the court during his bail application on Tuesday that he is wrongfully charged and would prove his “innocence”.

William Seema Makgoba, represented by a Pretoria-based attorney Nakedi Mamogobo, told the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court that he had nothing to do with the murder of internal audit honours degree student Thapelo Menwe (23) and that he was “merely a Bolt driver”.

Menwe was killed and robbed in Grosvenor Street, Hatfield, as he walked home from a student bar in the early hours of September 10.

Makgoba said on the day he was called by his co-accused Bongani Sibiya for transportation services.

“I was called by my co-accused to drive him and he said he shall pay me after the trip. I did not know what his intentions were,” he said.

Makgoba identified Sibiya as the gunman that killed Menwe.

“My co-accused [Sibiya] has made a confession that is before the magistrate, stating that he is the one who committed the crime.”

In a previous court appearance, Sibiya abandoned his bail application and submitted a confession.

While the NPA opposed bail and argued that both accused acted in common purpose suggesting that both knew of the crimes committed, Makgoba pinned his hopes of proving innocence during trial.

“I will prove my innocence during trial and the court will acquit me.”

The Nellmapius resident argued that should he not be granted bail he would lose his job as a driver for e-hailing service company, Bolt, “my mother and brother will suffer”.

“I am a primary caregiver of my elderly parents, brother who has an intellectual disability and financially provide for my two minor children,” Makgoba said.

“My mother suffers from hypertension, asthma and arthritis, I am responsible for assisting her in overseeing the medication intake.

“I am also responsible for bathing my brother before he goes to school and transporting him, my father who is 72 years old has been struggling to do this since my incarceration.”

The NPA argued that granting Makgoba bail would cause the bereaved family to lose trust in the justice system.

It told the court that Makgoba was previously charged for robbery, however it later indicated that the case had been withdrawn.

The accused remain in police custody and the case was postponed to October 25 for further investigations.