Residents say no to bail

Michael Malatjie, community leader from Gugulethu informal settlement, took a stance outside the Springs Magistrate Court on Tuesday morning.

Malatjie was speaking against the granting of bail to a man accused of allegedly sodomising and murdering a 17-year-old boy.

Dozens of protesters were with Malatjie outside the court, anxiously waiting to hear if the man’s bail application would be successful.

Malatjie and his co-leader, Lerato Sedia went to the scene where the boy was killed on Friday night after being told by the community that something happened there.

“There were signs that the boy struggled and we immediately phoned the police,” says Malatjie.

“Gugulethu has the highest crime rate and we need help because this is not going to stop,” he says.

“We ask the station commander to please put soldiers in our area to control this matter, there is always someone being killed or shot.”