The bail application for accused number one in the murder of councillor Thabang Masemola was postponed to June 5.

Both suspects, a 46-year-old woman and a 41-year-old man, appeared briefly at the Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning under heavy police guard.

Senior prosecutor Advocate Anne-Marie Bendeman said the case against accused number two was postponed to August 4 for further investigation. Once accused number one’s bail hearing is concluded, the court will likewise adjourn that matter to August 4.

“The female suspect is currently facing charges of murder and the court is charging her as an accomplice,” said Bendeman.

Accused number two is facing charges of murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition.

The duo were arrested by the Political Killings Task Team.

Bendeman said the court is expected to add an additional charge of attempted murder against the male suspect which occurred in October 2023.

“The accused, together with another perpetrator, fired numerous shots at the accused,” said Bendeman.

Hundreds of residents attended the court case and different organisations chanted outside the court pleading for no bail to be granted for the two accused.

Regional chairperson of South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in the Greater Tshwane region, Fire Mashao, was in court to oppose bail.

Mashao said Sanco wanted no bail for the two suspects, adding they have started a petition calling for bail to be denied.

Masemola, who was the Ward 10 councillor at the time, was gunned down outside a tuck shop on the main road in Stoffel Park, in the far east of Mamelodi on the afternoon of July 8, 2025.

He had just bought a new car and reportedly wanted to take it for a test drive to show it to his companion.

The pair decided to buy food and stopped in Malapana Street to speak with another friend.

During their conversation, an unknown man, wearing a jacket with a hoodie, approached Masemola and, without any warning, fired several shots.

The shooter then fled the scene in a car.

The emergency services were summoned and declared Masemola dead.

A resident from Mamelodi East, Jan Nkoane, said the community was there in support of the Masemola family.

Nkoane said the two accused were well known in the community and pleaded with the court not to grant them bail.

“We hope to see more people arrested in this case,” he added.

Masemola’s sister, Louisah Dlamini (52), said the family is still looking for closure.

“We are happy that the perpetrators are in police custody waiting for judgment day.”

Dlamini said the pain of losing a loved one is unbearable and the family will never heal because they lost a brother, the pillar of their family and the Ward 10 community.

His other sister, Lucia Masemola, described her brother as a loving person who loved to serve his community and personally attended to all service delivery complaints in his ward.

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok or WhatsApp Channel