Cape Town - The two suspects arrested after five people were killed in Mfuleni have abandoned their bail application.
Vuyile Gqomo and Lwando Nakani were arrested for the mass killing and illegal possession of ammunition.
They have also been implicated in another matter of illegal possession of ammunition and firearms, in which they are accused with Lilitha Phalane and Siphelele Gqomo.
They were all arrested two days after the murder of five men in Mfuleni on December 1.
On Thursday in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court, the accused’s Legal Aid lawyer said they would not apply for bail provisionally until another application has been completed.
All four will apply for bail on January 14.
State prosecutor, Nomzamo Sinaze, said the information they were given was that all accused have clean criminal records.
“The State is still opposing the matter for a bail application as the murder case is a Schedule 6 offence.
“We would like the matters of the two other accused which are in another court to be combined so they can run together.
“Vuyile and Nakani are appearing on six counts. Count 1 to 5 are murder, where it is alleged that on December 1, the accused allegedly shot and killed five individuals who were in Mfuleni at an informal settlement. Count 6 is that of possession of ammunition.
“They were linked through witnesses and also a photo ID parade was conducted with those witnesses.
“At this stage, the State can inform the court that this matter falls under Schedule 6.”
She added that it is alleged that on December 3, the four accused were arrested after police received information about their whereabouts.
“The police found 12 9mm live rounds and one 9mm magazine in the possession of all four accused persons.”
Provincial police commissioner, Thembisile Patekile, said the investigating team had not slept for 48 hours searching for the shooters after the incident.
“Four people were arrested, but in total seven people were arrested but we see that the charges of murder are preferred for only the two. We are pleased with the development. We will continue with our investigation.”
mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za