Eight suspects that were arrested for murdering two coloured men in New Canada, Soweto were granted R5000 bail each at the Orlando Magistrate Court on Monday. The eight suspects were arrested in September after two men were accused of robberies that were taking place at Pennyville Flats Phase 4.
Angry residents attacked the men who subsequentlydied after the community enacted mob justice.Witnesses, however, did not attend the court case on Monday with residents expressing the lack of credibility for the said witnesses.
It is alleged that the witnesses were also part of the mob that attacked the two deceased men. Some of the eight suspects that were identified by the witnesses were not implicated in the mob justice, and residents seek justice as the community of New Canada is affected by the crimes that occur in the area.
“I was with my husband when the community attacked those two guys and we were not even part of the community mob. After the accused were attacked people called the police then minutes after police came to our flat to question my husband and ever since then my husband has been imprisoned in Sun City Prison. This has affected him psychologically as we are seeking help for counselling,” said Tsholo.
Community members were excluded from attending the hearing as the judge felt that violent clashes would eruptshould the Black and Coloured community be in the same court room.
People waited outside the court room as the bail was confirmed and the case will continue again in December.
