Everson Luhanga
The Alexandra Magistrate’s Court has denied bail to the 12 men charged with shooting dead six people and injuring several others on the night of 14 July.
The 12 accused – who range in age from 35 to just 18 years old – lined up in a packed courtroom and listened as leading investigator Colonel Tobezweni Albert Jam-Jam recounted their night of terror.
Arguing that the accused should be denied bail, Colonel Jam-Jam told the court that the group moved from street to street, shooting randomly at innocent people and robbing them of their belongings.
The men began their spree at 7pm and continued well into the early hours of the following morning.
“On one street, they found two people parked outside charging their phones. They shot at them and moved into another street where they met an employee of Alex FM, Joshua Mbatha,” he said.
“They shot and robbed him of his cellphone and shoes,” he said.
The final two victims were a local taxi driver who was taking his passenger to work when they were killed.
Colonel Jam-Jam said that the reign of terror was brought to an end when cops arrested eight of the men in a shack at Nobuhle Hostel.
Their arrest, he argued, resulted in a sense of peace on the streets of Alex, and their release would bring fear to many of its residents, making a mockery of the justice system.
He said one of the suspects has a pending case of murder and another one had a case of assault in KwaZulu-Natal.
After reading the affidavit compiled by the investigation officer, Colonel Jam-Jam was cross-examined by one of the defence lawyers.
The accused face charges of murder, attempted murder and robbery, among others.
The court was quiet and families of the accused and of the victims filled the benches and the court corridors.
The accused did not look worried and frequently smiled. They are due back in court on Monday next week for another bail hearing.
