While six people were killed in Alexandra, Johannesburg, the 12 men arrested in connection with several shooting sprees in the township only face two counts of murder.
The group aged between 18 and 25 appeared in the Alexandra magistrate's court on two counts of murder, four of attempted murder, possession of stolen property, and robbery with aggravating circumstances, among other charges.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said, “People were shot and robbed of their belongings like cellphones, cash and shoes, at five different locations.
“Two of the people succumbed to gunshot wounds, while some are still in the hospital...”
But provincial police spokesperson Lt-Col Mavela Masondo said police had handed over six murder dockets to the NPA.
This was however disputed by Mjonondwane when Sowetan asked for clarity as to why the accused – Thubelihle Sibiya, Andile Hlubi, Siyabulela Myeni, Goodman Mduduzi Nene, Nkokhelo Chonco, Khanyile Bongani Nceba Zungu, Lindokuhle Dludla, Sphelele Khanyile, Nkazi Mbatha, Ziphezinhle Mncwango, Ntokozo Chonco and Dumisani Sithole – were only facing two counts of murder when six people had been gunned down.
Masondo said: “From our side, we have handed over six murder dockets to the court and we are still investigating all six cases.”
He said in instances where a prosecutor decides not to place the matter on the roll, the docket is returned to the police with further instructions and in this instance they had not received any directive on the cases.
Mjonondwane said all accused were remanded and would appear in court again on July 25, for them to get legal representation and for bail investigations.
The shooting spree that took place during load-shedding in five different areas in the township on Thursday night claimed six lives, including that of Alex FM music manager Joshua Mbatha while eight others are recovering in hospital.
Police minister Bheki Cele said there was a gang consisting of young locals terrorising the community.
“The people who have committed these crimes are not foreigners. They are a gang of young people who are from this very area. They are children of Alex who speak the local language,” he said during his visit to the police station on Friday.
Masondo said the suspects first met people travelling in a Toyota Etios at the corner of 4th Avenue and Selborne Street and fired shots at them. One person was injured.
In the second incident at the corner of 11th Avenue and Boulevard Street, the suspects found two people sitting in a car charging cellphones as there was no electricity in the area due to load-shedding.
The suspects robbed the victims of their cellphones before shooting them. The victims were taken to medical care centres for treatment.
The suspects then came across the next victim on Boulevard Street, where he was fatally shot.
In another shooting, the victim was shot on 7th Avenue where he died on the scene while two people were robbed of their cellphones and shoes.
The suspects also shot three people on Sixth Avenue. One person was fatally wounded while two victims were taken for medical treatment.
Masondo said it has been further reported that in the last shooting, which happened at the corner of 6th Avenue and Roosevelt Road, two people were shot while inside a Toyota Avanza.
Both victims died at the scene. Another victim died in hospital on Friday.
sibiyan@sowetan.co.za
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