5 accused seen on store video

Murder, robbery suspects seen running outside Cavendish

AVIDEO depicting the scene outside Cavendish Square where five men accused of murdering Strandfontein dad, Grant Fredericks, 39, were caught in a foiled robbery at Trigg jewellery store, was shown to the Western Cape High court yesterday.

Zingisile Kleinhans, Siphokule Bulana, Xola Nakumba, Themba Jijaji and Mongameli Dyani, appeared before Judge Bruce Langa, facing charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances of Fredericks’ vehicle.

They also face charges of attempted robbery with aggravating circumstances of the jewellery store; possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition; possession of housebreaking implements and possession of an imitation firearm.

Just 16 hours before the robbery of the jewellery store, the dad of two was gunned down outside a tuck shop near his home in Strandfontein in 2016. The accused were then caught on camera at the scene of the attempted jewellery robbery.

In the video shown in court, a vehicle is seen outside the mall being abruptly approached by a police vehicle, before people are seen running around while one person is lying on the ground. Witness Sergeant Brandon George, who forms part of the K9 flying squad dog unit, testified that officers had arrived on the scene to catch the accused. He explained that the men were chased by security guards outside the mall before he arrived. He said they ran in the opposite direction when they saw him. He identified the men to be driving Fredericks’ stolen red Volkswagen Polo and arrested one of the suspects.

George said he followed the runners to the main road where he lost sight of them and used the stolen vehicle to drive to the taxi rank to track them down. He said his colleague apprehended accused number five at the taxi rank.

Defence advocate, Yasmine Rajap, questioned whether George saw the accused running towards the stolen Polo, as [other] people and vehicles were in the road at the time.

The case was postponed to July 16.

SERGEANT USED STOLEN VEHICLE TO DRIVE TO TAXI RANK AND TRACK DOWN ACCUSED