LIMPOPO – Sarfaz Yunus Patel (28), Sarfaran Patel (34), Ahmed Patel (26),Zuber Patel (25) and Khalid Patel (45) were released on R20 000 bail each and given conditions that they vacate the Giyani area and move to Thohoyandou.
This after they were arrested for assaulting a Zimbabwean national, Thomas Muthekwathekwa to death. The deceased had apparently tried to rob their shop in Chachulani using a fake till slip.
According to Magistrate Cedrick Baloyi, the accused acted in unlawfully and the incident could have been prevented had they called the police.
He also stated that according to the Constitution, everyone has the right to be given bail and is not guilty until proven by the courts of law.
The accused were also ordered to report to the Thohoyandou Police Station three times per day until their trial date on 12 August.
Family spokesperson of the deceased, Bennet Chinhwa said as a family they are not happy that the suspects were given bail.
“They should not have been given bail. We want them to feel the pain we’re experiencing. We hope they rot in jail after the trial.”
