The ANC and the EFF have called for no bail to be granted to Afrika Mayibuye leader Fani Sibeko when he returns to court next week for the Katlehong killings.
The murder case against Sibeko, who is accused of gunning down ANC Youth League activists in Katlehong, was postponed to Wednesday for a formal bail application.
The 46-year-old appeared briefly in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Thursday morning on nine criminal charges, including four counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, illegally discharging a firearm and failure to store his firearm safely.
The alleged gunman behind Tuesday night’s bloodbath stood alone in the dock, stone-faced, as a courtroom packed with ANCYL members in their yellow and black colours fixed their eyes on him.
The State confirmed it will oppose his release on bail. Prosecutors said they will pursue the matter as a Schedule 6 offence, arguing that the shooting was premeditated.
Sibeko will remain behind bars until his next appearance.
ANC and EFF supporters chanting outside the court demanded that the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court refuse to even entertain bail.
According to police, the victims were ambushed on Tuesday evening in Katlehong North while walking home from a memorial service for slain ANC and ANCYL leader Jeanette Magugu at Mogobeng Primary School.
Two activists died at the scene. Two others died later in hospital.
Sibeko has been identified by police sources and party insiders as a senior Afrika Mayibuye Regional Coordination Team member and a councillor candidate for the November 4 local government elections.
The party has since tried to distance itself from him.
Spokesperson Sydney Baloyi said the party was still investigating the incident.
“We are following the events of last night’s incident very closely. Will share something comprehensive as soon as the details of it all are made available to us,” Baloyi said.
The Gauteng Political Killings Task Team has now taken over the investigation, signalling that the State is treating the case as politically motivated.
Sources close to the investigation claim Sibeko had also addressed the same memorial service where tensions flared earlier in the evening, before allegedly opening fire on ANCYL members as they left.
Sibeko’s defence is expected to argue self-defence when he applies for bail next week, but the State is expected to argue that the number of shots fired and the death toll point to a calculated attack.
