Byline: Refeloe Letsoisa
01 November 2023
The five men accused of burning trucks in Ermelo were denied bail by the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 31 October 2023.
The court found that the state had a strong case against the accused and they were a flight risk; it weighed against the accused circumstances and the interest of justice and found no exceptional circumstances that permitted their release on bail.
This is in connection with the burning of trucks, where four trucks were burned in Ermelo in July 2023.
The state alleges that the accused robbed and burned trucks used for the transportation of goods on the N2 national road due to certain grievances in the transportation industry.
The accused, Nelson Khulekani Shongwe (29), Sibusiso Emmanuel Mthethwa (38), Fundile Albert Mpondo (41), Mafika William Sibanda and Nkosikhona Gumede (27), who are members of the African Truck Drivers Association, are charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances, malicious damage to property, attempted murder, and possession of an unlicensed firearm.
The National Prosecuting Authority is satisfied with the courts denying the accused bail.
We, together with the police, will work towards the finalisation of the investigation and transfer the matter to the trial court.
The matter was postponed to Thursday, 07 December 2023, for further investigations.
