Durban — While police say the accused suspected to be linked to a mass shooting in Savannah Park were each found in possession of a firearm, on Tuesday during their bail application the suspects said the firearms were found in the house they were in.
The three, Njabulo Mchunu, 31, Comfort Ngubo 22, and Nicolas Sphamandla Hadebe, 24, were granted bail in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court.
Magistrate Wendalynn Robinson granted Ngubo and Hadebe R8 000 bail each and set Mchunu’s at R10 000.
It also emerged that the three firearms allegedly found in the accuseds’ possession were stolen – with one allegedly being a SAPS shotgun taken in a robbery when a police vehicle was burnt during the July 2021 unrest.
The three were said to have been linked to the mass shooting in Savannah Park after the eThekwini mayor announced, at the time he visited the bereaved family, that three suspects allegedly linked to the shooting had been arrested.
On the day of the alleged shooting, gunmen opened fire at Siqhopholozi tuck shop in Savannah Park, killing tuck shop owner Bhekumuzi Mzobe, his nephews Siboniso Mzobe and Sanele Khenisa, as well as Phumlani Mpithimpithi, Sphamandla Shezi, Siyakudumisa Mtshengu and a seventh person who later died in hospital.
Mchunu, Ngubo and Hadebe, arrested in the wee hours of August 2 at their friend’s house in Wyebank, are charged with possession of a firearm without a licence as well as ammunition.
In their bid to be released on bail their defence attorney Mthokozisi Mazibuko read each of their affidavits. All three said they had no previous convictions or pending cases and all pledged to abide by the conditions should bail be granted.
“I was arrested at a friend’s house … there were seven of us including the people from the house … the police found the guns in that house but arrested the three of us and not the people from that house,” said Mchunu who told the court that he had a 1-year-old child.
However, the investigating officer, via an affidavit, told the court that on the day police raided the house of Skhumbuzo Gamede in Wyebank, and upon searching the accused inside the house, they were found in possession of the guns.
Warrant Officer Eric Maphare testified that Mchunu was found in possession of a black 9mm pistol and ammunition.
“The accused was arrested in possession of a firearm and 17 live rounds of ammunition. The firearm was taken during a house robbery at KK (hostel) in KwaDabeka,” said Maphare in reference Ngubo.
Maphare said when Hadebe was arrested he was found in possession “of a stolen police shotgun” relating to a Pinetown SAPS robbery case where a police vehicle was also torched during the July unrest.
The State did not oppose bail and Mazibuko said this was a factor in favour of his clients who pledge not to interfere with witnesses or the case should they be granted bail, adding that they did not know the witnesses – in this case, the police.
In granting bail magistrate Robinson noted there was no evidence before court that bail for the accused would disturb public order and peace or they would evade trial.
The matter was adjourned. All three accused intend to plead not guilty.
Daily News