Africa-Press – South-Africa. The trial against 13 men and a woman accused of being part of a vigilante mob, which brutally killed eight people in Zandspruit in 2021, has stalled again.
On Monday, the Gauteng High Court in Palm Ridge heard that accused number 1, Tebogo Mabula, had gone back to a lower court, to bring a bail application.
In addition, the prosecutor, advocate Zarina Peck, told Judge Cassim Moosa the matter could not proceed because of the absence of a lawyer to represent accused number 12, Charles Ramashia.
Peck said Mabula’s bail hearing was expected to be heard on Tuesday.
“This matter was postponed to today to (sit for trial) until 15 June. The court has been informed that Ramashia’s lawyer is unavailable and is in the high court arguing two appeal matters. Therefore, the matter is unable to proceed today.
“Arrangements [made earlier] was that the matter was expected to proceed today. Again, Mabula is going to the lower court to bring a bail application,” said Moosa.
Mabula, Mziwamangwane Witbooi, Njabulo Zwane, Phakiswa Tsengiswa, Maxwell Mpofu, Klaas Masemola, Joshua Mabodze, Alfred Mollo, Everyone Moyo, Phillemon Seemela, Douglas Tshuma, Ramashia, Phiwe Khubeka and Peter Mufamadi are facing murder charges.
Tsengiswa is the only woman accused in the matter.
It is alleged the 14 were part of a mob of more than 200 people who raided the homes of nine young men.
The men were later killed.
The nine victims were accused of being behind the crime in Zandspruit. They were rounded up in the early hours of 19 May 2021.
They were forcefully woken up in their homes, undressed, their hands bound, severely assaulted and marched to a soccer field.
Paraffin-soaked tyres were placed around their necks – and set alight. Four men died at the scene, four others died later in the hospital, and the ninth victim survived.
Tsengiswa, Seemela and Khubeka remain out on bail.
The trial continues on 6 June.
For More News And Analysis About South-Africa Follow Africa-Press
