Load shedding ends alleged killers’ bail hearing

The bail hearing of Ernest Mabaso and Fita Khupe, who allegedly murdered seven members of the same family in Vlakfontein, has been transferred to the Protea Magistrate’s Court because of load shedding.

The Lenasia Magistrate’s Court postponed the matter to today after several hours without electricity. Mabaso, 27, and Khupe, 61, were expected to apply for bail on seven counts of murder and theft yesterday. Mabaso is facing three additional charges of rape.

“A lower court may not postpone a bail application for a period exceeding seven days so we will have to transfer the matter to the Protea Magistrate’s Court for Thursday,” Magistrate Maggie van der Merwe told the court.

“We need to get everything on record. It is impossible to write everything down since we don’t have electricity.”

On October 29, neighbours alerted police to a foul smell coming from the Khoza family’s house in Vlakfontein, south of Johannesburg. The police broke down the door and discovered seven bodies concealed under piles of sand on the floor. There were blood stains on the wall.

During the pair’s previous appearance, Mabaso asked if he could be moved from the Johannesburg central police station’s holding cells as he had been threatened from his co-accused who is being held at the Johannesburg Correctional Facility, also known as Sun City. He was moved to Krugersdorp Prison.

“The issue is safety, your worship. He is saying that accused two is threatening him and there are people he, accused two, is working with,” Mabaso’s lawyer told the court earlier this month.

Mabaso had previously indicated he would abandon his bail application.

However, he later submitted a formal application and the matter was postponed. Vlakfontein residents were outside the court protesting against the bail application. – ANA