By Doreen Mokgolo
- The murdered cop’s wife and alleged hitman remain in custody as a bail hearing is postponed for witness identification.
- Family and community members protest outside court demanding suspects stay behind bars.
The wife of a murdered Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officer will spend another weekend behind bars after her bail hearing was postponed by the Springs Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
School teacher Sibongile Dlamini and alleged hitman Nhliziyozabantu Magwanyana face charges of planning the murder of Constable Banele Skosana.
Their bail hearing was delayed for the second time to allow for a witness identity parade set for Friday.
The middleman who allegedly arranged the hit was arrested in the Free State two weeks ago but hasn’t appeared in court yet. A second suspect who was at the shooting is still on the run.
The police constable, who worked at OR Tambo International Airport, was gunned down by two men outside his tuckshop on 7 February in KwaThema.
State prosecutor Aubrey Classen told the court they had finished checking the suspects’ backgrounds.
“We are left with the identity parade by the witnesses, which is expected to be done today (Friday, 21 February). We will be ready to proceed with the bail application once this has been done,” he said.
Outside court, protest groups held up placards asking Magistrate Khensani Moila to keep the alleged killers in jail.
Community leader Nthabiseng Morake said the suspects shouldn’t return to the community.
“We are tired of women and men being killed senselessly, with suspects getting away with it. Our courts must set precedence that anyone who is arrested for murder with concrete evidence be denied bail until their case is finalised,” she said.
Family spokesperson Lunga Skosana said that though the bail application process was slow, they were glad the suspects remained in custody.
“We are broken as a family because we accepted her into the family in December, only for her to want to pay for his murder without approaching the family for mediation,” she said.
Pictured above: Residents picketing outside court.
Image source: Doreen Mokgolo
