On May 30 the 10 accused of robbing SBV situated in Klipfontein of at least R87-million stood once again before Witbank Magistrate’s Court.
“For your own safety please leave the court,” said one of the Hawks members.
The order was given and the court was cleared.
One of the Hawks stood on a bench, elevated he addressed the public that had gathered for the bail hearing, he explained that no firearms would be allowed in court and that every member of the public, whether they were police officials or not, would be searched before entering the court.
People entered one by one after being searched at each doorway.
The bail hearing was set to take place and the 10 accused entered the court room some confident in assuming they were receiving bail today, while others holding a discerned eye as they entered the courtroom, weary of who had come to witness the hearing.
Accused 10’s wife sat in the court room, clutching her hands she spoke of how she hoped her husband would be released on bail. Accused four grinned, he seemed most confident that he would be released on bail that day, tensions rose as the hearing began.
Three accused – accused two, seven and 10 – were each granted bail at R5 000 each, and their next appearance was set for September 5 pending further investigations into their claims and statements.
Accused 10’s wife felt a sigh of relief knowing that her husband would not be spending his 60th birthday behind bars.
Accused one, three, four, five and six however, remained in custody and were set to appear before the court on Wednesday June 4 for bail hearing. Both accused eight and nine’s bail had been abandoned and the pair will remain in custody.
The three accused released on bail were ordered to report once a week, on a Friday, to their local police stations, namely Soshanguve, Mulder’s Drift and Brakpan police stations.
