UP student murder: NPA fights against accused’s bail
“The accused is a danger to society and there is a likelihood that if he is released on bail, the court will not be taken seriously,” the NPA says.
The NPA wants the two men accused of murdering a University of Pretoria student to remain in custody until trial.
Internal audit honours degree student Thapelo Menwe (23) was killed and robbed in Grosvenor Street, Hatfield on September 10.
Shortly after, William Seema Makgoba and Bongani Sibiya, were arrested a only few metres away and both charged with murder and robbery.
Sibiya abandoned his bail application and instead submitted a confession while Makgoba continued his fight for bail.
Both men appeared in the Pretoria magistrate’s court on Friday.
Represented by Pretoria attorney Nakedi Mamogobo, Makgoba told the court that he had nothing to do with the murder as he was merely a Bolt driver for Sibiya.
NPA asked the court to deny Makgoba bail, arguing that he was involved in Menwe’s murder.
“So far as it relates to the confession, it implicates Makgoba. It is not disputed even in the bail application that he was with accused number one [Sibiya], who is saying he is the one who shot the deceased,” the NPA prosecutor said.
NPA said 29 000 people signed an online petition by change.org calling for bail to be denied.
“The accused is a danger to society. There is a likelihood that if he is released on bail, the court will not be taken seriously by the community.”
“Bail should be refused and the accused kept in custody until trial.”
Makgoba previously told the court that on the day he was called by his co-accused 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 has made a confession that is before the magistrate, stating that he is the one who committed the crime.”
The accused will be back in court on December 5 for a bail decision.
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