Five burnt to death: Mamelodi taxi bosses released on bail despite gruesome allegations
The two Mamelodi Taxi Association members accused of burning five men to death were granted R2 000 bail each by the Cullinan Magistrates Court, north of Pretoria.
The accused, Masipa Victor Maepa, 38, and Job Matsobane Magongwa, 43, face multiple charges, including five counts of murder, five counts of kidnapping, and five counts of assault.
It is alleged that on 11 September a group of five men, one of them being a member of the Tembisa Taxi Association, were driving around Mamelodi East in a taxi when they were confronted by members of the Mamelodi Taxi Association and the Mamelodi Long-Distance Taxi Association.
The men were accused of coming from Tembisa to steal taxis, said regional National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana. They were allegedly assaulted, tied up, and placed back in their taxi and driven to Cullinan, where they were allegedly set alight. Two men initially managed to escape the burning vehicle but later succumbed to their injuries.
A member of the Cullinan Community Policing Forum (CPF) received a complaint about a burning taxi on Brandbotch Road in Cullinan.
Upon arrival, three bodies were found burned beyond recognition inside the vehicle. Two of the severely burnt victims were found outside the taxi. Although they were still alive at that stage, they later died from their injuries.
Investigations by the Taxi Violence Unit of the police led to the arrest of the accused, who handed themselves over to police. In court, the accused requested bail, citing their roles as breadwinners.
They also told the court that they have stable employment with the Mamelodi Taxi Association and confirmed their residential addresses.
Prosecutor Phumza Pfunzo Sinyengwe opposed bail, presenting the affidavit of the investigating officer, Mokgola Gerald Rapetswa, which warned that their release could endanger witnesses. It was also noted that Magongwa had a prior assault conviction.
The magistrate, however, found that exceptional circumstances existed which, in the interest of justice, permitted their release on bail, Mahanjana said. The matter has been postponed to 26 November for further investigations.
zelda.venter@inl.co.za