Bail for six heist accused

Three of six people accused of an attempted heist at an East London butchery they believed had R70m on its premises were granted R2,000 bail each on Friday.

The three, together with two other co-accused, have been in custody since their arrest in July. One suspect, believed to be the mastermind, was arrested in January.

In January – although they were all named in the media during their failed bail application last August – East London magistrate Rochelle Sam ordered that their identities and pictures not be further published as an identity parade still had to be conducted.

On Friday, magistrate Lionel Mitten said it was in the interest of justice to release the three on bail.

However, their two co-accused, including the alleged mastermind, were denied bail, with Mitten saying the one, a former Apla soldier and relative of a Bhisho legislature MPL, was believed to be the mastermind while the other had no fixed address.

He said it was evident from the evidence presented in court by the Hawks investigating officer that the two who were denied bail were in constant contact during the alleged planning of such a heist.

An attorney for one of them, Lumkile Mtima, on Friday told the Dispatch they would appeal.

One of the alleged gang members abandoned his bail application after their arrest in 2018.

The alleged planned robbery on July 12 was thwarted by police after a tip-off, according to the state’s case.

The case was postponed to March 20.