Bail hearing for 12 in mob justice case postponed

The second bail application hearing for 12 men accused of the brutal killings of seven young men in Ezingqolweni village last month was postponed in the Cacadu magistrate’s court to May 11.

The charges against the accused, aged between 35 and 68, stem from two separate incidents on the same day in which five men were burnt to death in an open field at Ezinqgolweni and two others were discovered hanging in a forest at the nearby Maqhashu village.

NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said all 12 accused were charged in relation to the murders of the five men who were burnt to death in the village.

He also said eight were charged with two counts of murder in relation to the two young men who had allegedly been hanged.

This meant some of the 12 accused were charged with five counts of murder while eight were charged with seven counts.

Tyali said one of the accused was charged in absentia because he was admitted to hospital.

The killings, believed to be an act of mob justice, followed the shocking fatal attacks on six residents of the village a few months ago without a single arrest by law enforcement officers.

Community members are alleged to have reported the suspects in connection with the six murders to the police but said no action was taken.

After the murders of the seven young men, police arrested seven local community members, including a ward councillor.

They made their first bail application two weeks ago.

However, more developments resulted in five more suspects being arrested.