Accused gang members, including cop appear in Limpopo court

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The case of four of the seven suspected gang members, including a police officer, arrested for gang related killings has been postponed to next month by the Thohoyandou Magistrate Court in Limpopo.

Thabang Mabule, Njabulo Mkhize, Joshua Ratshili and a police officer, Ntshavheni Ndonyane allegedly shot and killed Mpho Thabela. The accused have been remanded in custody.

The application for bail which was set to start on Thursday until Friday did not proceed. The accused’s lawyer, Tshifhiwa Matodzi decided against proceeding with bail application after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) refused his application for the centralisation of the cases against accused.

He then made an application for the matter to be postponed to give him time to challenge the DPP’s decision in the Thohoyandou High court. The court postponed the matter to 01 August for the High Court ruling and bail application.

The accused are facing separate charges for murder as well as possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. More than 10 men suspected to be members of gangs, have been shot and killed in separate incidents in Thohoyandou in the past eight months.

Three other accused in the gang related killings will appear at the Thohoyandou Magistrate Court next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, another prominent murder case against Radzuma siblings has been postponed to the 23rd of July.

Percy, Simon and Ndivhuwo Radzuma are being tried for murders, including that of SAMWU leaders, Timson Musetsho and Ronald Mani. Musetsho and Mani were killed, allegedly for speaking out against investment made by Vhembe district municipality in the defunct VBS bank.

The matter has been postponed due to the relocation of the Thohoyandou court. The court will sit in Waterval near Elim and Mutale for two years due to refurbishment work.