Bail application for double murder suspects provisionally postponed
Dannhauser Magistrate's Court was packed to capacity as five suspects accused of murder made their second appearance on October 1.
A deathly silence consumed the courtroom as the double murder suspects stepped onto the stand.
Dannhauser Magistrate’s Court was packed to capacity as five suspects accused of murder made their second appearance on October 1.
The men, aged between 20 and 41, have been implicated in the brutal murders of Piet Marè and Venktas Govender.
Handcuffed and under heavy guard, the perpetrators appeared tight-lipped.
The fifth suspect strolled into the room, apparently enraptured by the attention he and his co-accused had attracted. He turned to face a uneasy faction rooting for a hefty sentence; the family of the victims just metres away.
He glanced over at the Govender and Marè families; indifferent to the devastation he reportedly had a hand in. His apparent lack of emotion culminated in quiet sobs of anguish and malcontented murmurs.
The proceedings commenced just after 11.30am as the magistrate addressed all those in attendance.
Sabelo Kubheka, Sipho Hlatshwayo, Mondli Gamede, Allen Mabaso and Bonginkosi Sithebe were scheduled to apply for bail. However, the fourth accused stalled the hearing by not securing legal representation in time.
The magistrate agreed to postpone the proceedings to October 8; it was reiterated that this only be considered a ‘provisional date’.
The Court warned the fourth accused that if he did not secure an attorney by said date, a Legal Aid representative would be assigned to him.
Bearing signs in a show of solidarity, residents gathered outside the courthouse. The words, “Why are they killing our loved ones?” and, “They don’t deserve bail” were scrawled across brown placards.
A spokesperson for the Govender family said the suspects showed no remorse for their apparent actions.
“The suspects are so young. They stripped Venktas of his dignity and should be jailed for life,” she said as tears welled up in her eyes.
Prominent Dannhauser resident, Colin Krause said the community is still reeling from the loss.
“There is more of an awareness of crime, and the community is more determined to stand together to try and prevent this from happening again,” he explained. “The SAPS have done a stunning job in rounding up the perpetrators, who hail from Madadeni/oSizweni.”
The suspects were referred to as ‘dogs’ for allegedly taking the lives of two of the town’s most respected residents.
Residents remain insistent they will not live in fear. An unofficial source said if the suspects were granted bail, the community would take matters into its own hands.
“The suspects should not be allowed the privilege of bail. How will we rest, knowing they are back on our streets?”
For the time being, the community is advised to allow the law to run its course, and trust that justice will be served.
