No bail for murder accused
Protesters were vociferous in the objection to bail being granted.
A GROUP of ANC Mabhinki branch members brandished posters and chanted loudly at the bail application hearing of murder accused Sanele Vezi (24) and Sbonele Nyawose (23) at the Ramsgate Magistrate’s Court yesterday (Tuesday). They vehemently opposed bail and were pleased when was not granted.
The two men face charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances. They have been accused of stabbing to death Lindani Zulu (31) while he was walking home from Bayside Tavern in Gamalakhe on December 14, at about 10pm. Zulu was stabbed several times and later died in hospital. Vezi and Nyawose also face charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances. They stole Zulu’s cellphone.
Nkosinathi Xulu, the deputy chairman of the ANC Mabhinki branch, said the men had ’caused chaos and a lot of trouble in the community before they were arrested’. He was pleased they had been arrested, and strongly opposed them being granted bail.
Vezi applied for bail, while Nyawose abandoned his application. During the bail application, state prosecutor Thengiwe Vuso argued that bail should not be granted due to the safety of witnesses as the accused had allegedly threatened witnesses. Also considered was the general interest of society.
Magistrate Elize Coetzer denied bail to Vezi on these grounds, and as it was a schedule six offence, there were no exceptional circumstances to be considered. Mrs Coetzer said that even if it wasn’t a schedule six offence, she still would not have granted bail as the accused had threatened witnesses, and that the community was ‘up in arms’. The case has been postponed to February 27.
