PSJ headman granted bail in kidnap and murder case

A Port St Johns (PSJ) village headman, one of his sub-headmen and seven other village men were each granted R1,000 bail after appearing in court on charges of kidnapping and murder.

The suspects, all from Chaguba village about 20km outside PSJ, were arrested earlier this month following the death of Sindile Ninemzayifani, 25. He was found hanging inside a forest between the old military base and the popular Second Beach.

PSJ police spokesperson Captain Nozuko Handile said the deceased had been among three young men who had been assaulted – allegedly by the suspects – after being accused of stealing laptops from headman Afrika Fono’s home in Chaguba on November 4.

At the time of writing on Thursday, national prosecuting authority regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali was unable to provide the names of the other eight suspects. Attempts to get the names from the prosecutor also failed as he declined to talk to the paper while Handile was also unable to assist as he was driving back from Flagstaff.

But Handile said the deceased had been part of the men accused of theft.

“The three men were then suspected of having been behind the theft of those laptops and they were called to the [headman’s] home,” said Handile.

“One of them was assaulted but later managed to escape. The two other men were thrown into a car and driven to near the airstrip where they were allegedly assaulted.”

Ninemzayifani was allegedly also pelted with rocks before he was taken to the forest where he was hanged.

The spokesperson said some of the suspects were arrested three days later following police investigations while others were later caught.

On Thursday, the nine suspects appeared in the PSJ magistrate’s court for a formal bail application.

Magistrate Songezo Dotwana told the accused that the state had not opposed bail but warned them that they should not interfere with the witnesses nor the investigations.

He also told them to notify the court should their physical addresses change.

They were granted a bail of R1,000 each.

The case was postponed to December 18.

The two other men were thrown into a car and driven to near the airstrip where they were allegedly assaulted