A man accused of helping a gunman carry out a deadly attack in Berea, Johannesburg, will remain behind bars after the High Court rejected his claim that he had merely arranged a taxi to transport a basket of washing.
Hlanganani Bhengu, 36, faces two counts of murder, one of attempted murder and charges of possessing unlicensed firearms following a shooting that left two people dead and a bystander wounded.
The shooting happened at about 6.45pm on 17 December 2025 at the corner of Tudhope and O’Reilly streets in Berea.
According to the State, CCTV footage captured a white Toyota Quantum stopping at the scene before a gunman pulled a rifle from a washing basket and opened fire on the occupants of a car.
A bystander was struck in the leg by a stray bullet.
The State alleges that Bhengu was travelling in the taxi with the gunman and helped facilitate the attack by arranging the transport.
Investigating officer Sergeant Zuma told the court that footage showed Bhengu jumping out of the taxi after the shooting, retrieving the washing basket and throwing it back into the vehicle. He then appeared to follow the gunman before turning back. Both men got into the taxi, which sped away.
Prosecutors further allege that Bhengu was tracked down the following day with a loaded AK-47, suspected to be the murder weapon, and a 9mm pistol.
Bhengu denies involvement in the killings and has offered a different explanation for the trip.
In his affidavit, he said an acquaintance had contacted him at the MTN taxi rank and asked him to arrange transport to take washing to a laundry in Hillbrow.
Because he did not own a vehicle, Bhengu said he arranged a taxi driver, who is his co-accused.
He claimed that when they arrived, the acquaintance jumped out, pulled a firearm and ran behind the taxi. Bhengu said he heard gunshots and returned to the vehicle, shocked and frightened.
He also told the court that he later led police to the alleged shooter’s home, where a firearm was found. He denied possessing any firearms.
But Acting Judge P Johnson rejected his explanation, questioning why the alleged gunman would have needed Bhengu to arrange transport when he knew Bhengu did not own a vehicle.
“The court finds it strange that the shooter, who without doubt knew that the Appellant did not own his own transport, would phone the Appellant and ask him to arrange transport for him,” the judge said.
“Why could he not arrange his own transport?”
In dismissing Bhengu’s bail appeal on Monday, 12 October, the judge concluded that the evidence pointed to a coordinated attack.
“The only reasonable inference that can be drawn, is that this was a planned operation between the Appellant and the shooter, whereby the Appellant would arrange transport for them to carry out their diabolical plan,” the judge said.
The court found that Bhengu had failed to establish the exceptional circumstances required for bail in a Schedule 6 case.
A Johannesburg regional magistrate had previously refused him bail on 3 February. The taxi driver accused alongside him was granted bail.
Bhengu is unemployed, lives in Rosettenville and is the father of three children. He has no previous convictions and told the court he had R2,000 available for bail.
The alleged shooter remains at large.
