Tension hot spot
Tension is running high in the community as the three suspects for the murder of Charles Mgidi await to hear if they will be granted bail today (Friday) in the Mokopane magistrate’s court.
MOKOPANE – TENSION is running high in the community as the three suspects for the murder of Charles Mgidi await to hear if they will be granted bail today (Friday) in the Mokopane magistrate’s court.
The Mogalakwena Residents Association (MRA) in cooperation with concerned residents will be marching from Retief Street to the magistrate’s court to emphasis that they are against the granting of bail. According to a meeting held on Tuesday by the MRA, Taxi Associations, the Mokopane Business Chamber, the DA and numerous security companies, the illegal march will be peaceful.
Mgidi was laid to rest last Sunday after he was shot and killed on April 4 at the Caltex Garage on the corner of Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela Drive.
The three suspects who are all well-known taxi-owners, Samuel Matjila, Patrick Sekhu and Desmond Mashabane, appeared before court last Thursday for a bail application.
The state prosecutor and defence attorney argued why bail should be granted or denied.
The defence attorney argued that there is no reason not to grant bail as the suspect shot Mgidi in self-defence.
She said the suspects called the Mokopane police and handed over their licenced fire arms. An unlicensed pump-action shotgun was found next to Mgidi.
The state prosecutor stated that the police cannot guarantee the safety of the suspects if released on bail.
The defence attorney responded and said that the suspects do not believe that their lives are in danger and Matjila is an owner of a security company.
She also stated that more than 300 people are dependant on an income from Matjila, Sekhu and Mashabane.
Magistrate Annalies Swanepoel postponed the case to 08:00 this morning to hear further evidence from the newly appointed state prosecutor why bail should be denied.
