By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The court case of two men charged with killing four people in Soshanguve on New Year’s Day has been postponed to next week Friday, 12 January 2024, for a formal bail application.
Tshepo Stompie Masombuka (30) and Sipho Rusty Kgomo (33) appeared on four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
The four people that were fatally shot included 14-year-old Vuyolethu Ziwele, Phomolo Malakapatlo, 28, and Constable Mpho Kgobotlo, 29 and Thandi Dlamini, 33.
According to a witness, the unknown suspects were armed with rifles and wore black bulletproof vests.
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso said, “the shooting took place in Block P close to number 581 on the street. Three vehicles, a grey Golf 7, a white Hyundai i20 and a silver and white Toyota Yaris were found parked, riddled with bullet holes after three men with riffles leapt out of two vehicles and opened fire on them.
Nevhuhulwi further revealed, 80 empty rifle cartridges were found at the scene, as well as 19 cartridges from a 9mm firearm.
The courtroom was packed and when Masombuka and Kgomo entered the courtroom, those in public gallery, including the victims’ families, cursed at them and called them “witches”.
Magistrate Teresa Swart postponed the case to Friday, 12 January for a formal bail application and to establish the scheduling of the offence as the specialised investigating officers arrived late with the docket, prolonging the court proceedings.
The circumstances that led to the fatal Soshanguve New Years murders is unclear at this stage.
Rev Joseph Chabangu from the South African Council of Churches said Soshanguve has a high rate of crime.
“Last time people came into the tavern and started to shoot randomly at people. We don’t know where that case is. We are saying let us have a police station, not even a satellite police station, because our community in Soshanguve is growing. While it is growing, crime also is growing, unemployment is growing. There are no services that are entering Juklyn, if a person is sick the ambulance cannot go in there because of crime and police visibility is there, but they are always reactive and not proactive,” Chabangu said.
He said crimes like cash heists, gangsterism, and rape are rife in the area.
Tlhogi Moseki, national chairman of The Transformation Alliance, was in court to support the families.
He asked the judiciary and courts to continue holding the offenders accountable until the matter was rectified.
Moseki vowed that he would not allow a state of lawlessness in South Africa and remained dedicated to helping the family and community in their quest for justice.