Africa-Press – South-Africa. Four of the alleged extortionists who terrorised Khayelitsha during the Covid-19 lockdown are set to go on trial next year in a court attached to a prison, for security reasons.
Yanga “Bara” Nyalara, Wanda Tofile, Manelisi Nguma and Lundi Zweni are accused of 18 murders and six attempted murders, according to the summary of the terror timeline in their indictment.
They are accused of being self-appointed protectors of the suburbs’ businesses, extracting a fee from small enterprises, many of them run by first-generation immigrants.
Standing in the dock wearing the upmarket labels Lacoste, Fabiani and BOSS, the four were told there had been no judges available sooner due to a backlog in the court roll, and 20 judges currently occupied with other criminal matters.
“So, it’s impossible to deal with this matter in the first term [of 2024],” said Judge Robert Henney.
“This kind of case will take some time.”
Nyalara’s arrest was trumpeted by Police Minister Bheki Cele as a breakthrough in the wave of mass shootings terrorising the suburb.
The ex-teacher-turned-taxi-owner hails from Cofimvaba in the Eastern Cape and is accused of being the mastermind behind shooting people who would not pay, or killing rival extortionists.
He was on the run for skipping bail in a cash-in-transit case at the time of his arrest, while relaxing in bed with a girlfriend and a supply of drugs.
One of the mass shooting sprees spread over several areas in Khayelitsha, with police racing around to catch the killers.
Goodwood Prison, mooted as an additional venue for high-risk trials, is expected to open with the prosecution of Nafiz Modack and others early next year.
The court heard on Friday that the Goodwood Prison court was almost complete.
The four men will remain in custody until their trial on 22 July 2024.
For More News And Analysis About South-Africa Follow Africa-Press
