The man who has been accused of murdering ANC Youth League regional secretary Oscar Dondashe has opted to remain in jail rather than be released on bail on Tuesday.
The man who has been accused of murdering ANC Youth League regional secretary Oscar Dondashe has opted to remain in jail rather than be released on bail on Tuesday.
This was a few days after a 50-strong group comprising local ANC leaders and members protested outside the magistrate’s court, waving placards reading: “Release him so that the community can deal with him”.
Zolani “Nziki” Myeki has been accused of shooting Dondashe after robbing him of his cellphone in V Street, Tantyi on the morning of 12 July. He appeared in court again on Tuesday, facing charges of murder, aggravating robbery and possession of dagga. 35-year-old Myeki was supposed to apply for bail, however, in front of a court gallery packed with ANC supporters and Dondashe’s friends, he abandoned his bail application.
His attorney, Luthando Magwaca from the Legal Aid Board, told the court that he had been instructed by his client to cancel the bail application. After Myeki’s two-minute appearance, Magistrate Sarel Strauss postponed the case until 21 August for further investigation.
No reasons were given in court for the decision but it is suspected that Myeki fears the angry members of the community and Dondashe’s supporters, who toyi-toyied outside the court again on Tuesday. The protesters chanted threatening songs and hurled insults at Dondashe’s attackers.
There has been confusion after police reported that four suspects were arrested in connection with Dondashe’s killing but only Myeki has been charged with the 24-year-old ANCYL leader’s murder.
Clearing up the confusion on Tuesday, investigating officer Inspector Zukile Mpiyane said that some of the suspects were released after questioning after they were not implicated during an identity parade. Apparently, an eyewitness who was with Dondashe during the shooting, pointed out only Myeki as a suspect in the parade.
Inspector Mpiyane made it clear that Myeki is the only person that has been linked to Dondashe’s murder at this stage. Dondashe was walking home from a Tantyi tavern at about 5am when he was shot.
