The Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court in Durban has started hearing the bail applications of 12 suspects in the deaths of five men from Inanda earlier this month.
The bodies were discovered by the community at a local sports ground at the Bhambayi settlement in Inanda north of Durban two weeks ago.
Five suspects have begun their application. They are facing charges of murder, attempted murder and kidnapping. All the accused have denied any involvement in the murders.
The bail hearing of 12 men accused of hacking to death five people has been postponed. The accused are facing charges of kidnapping, murder and attempted murder.
The court gallery was packed to capacity with relatives and residents of the Bhambayi settlement who came to support the twelve accused.
The accused filed affidavits in which they explained their whereabouts on the night of the killings.
The defence also called four witnesses to confirm the accused’s alibis.
The state told the court that it would not oppose bail as investigations have shown that the accused are not a flight risk and their addresses have been confirmed.
The bail hearing will continue on Thursday.
Outside the court, community members picketed, calling for the accused to be released. They also accused the police of failing to protect them against criminals.
Suspects linked to Inanda hackings appear in court
Mdu Hadebe is among those demonstrating outside court. He maintains that the suspects protected the community.
“We are here for the second time and this is the date that was set by the court and we want to make sure that when we go back home, we go back with them. These are our fathers and brothers who were arrested last week in connection with the murders that we have all seen and some are doing rounds on all media platforms. We will increase the number of the community because we still feel that the SAPS are not doing their job as these matters were reported a long time ago. We gave written petitions and letters regarding the high rate of crime at Bhambayi but no actions were taken.”
The State told the court that it will not oppose bail, as investigations have shown that the accused are not a flight risk and that their addresses have been confirmed. -Additional reporting by Khalesakhe Mbhense
