Four in court over spree of brutal murders in township
A gang of alleged murderers who are accused of killing three men and attempting to kill a fourth person appeared briefly in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The four men linked to the brutal murders of Anele Matshaba, 28, Zandile Tulman, 24, and Mfundu Ndondlo (no age given) on January 3 in Walmer Township have been charged with three counts of murder, attempted murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The men, whose ages are not listed on the charge sheet but who police say are aged between 24 and 30, did not plead to the charges.
They are Luthando Mthathi of Airport Valley, Monwabisi Twane of Walmer, Lubabalo Ntseta of Airport Valley and Lizo Ntseta of Oudtshoorn.
Mthathi, Twane and Lubabalo Ntseta indicated that they intended to abandon their formal bail applications while Lizo Ntseta confirmed he would be applying for bail.
It is alleged that during the early hours of January 3 the men first attacked Matshaba, who they dragged from his shack in Area Q.
He was severely beaten and shot and died on the scene.
Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said half an hour later the men stormed a shack in Siqcawu Street and allegedly dragged Tulman from his home.
He was severely beaten and shot three times. It is alleged Tulman was partially castrated during the attack.
At some stage before the men were arrested – about five hours after the first attack – Ndondlo was also shot dead, while another person was shot but survived.
A day before the attacks SAPS Walmer management had established a Tracing Task Team following a spate of violent crimes on Walmer residents, Naidu said.
The task team comprised officers, detectives, Trio Task Team members, members of the Crime Prevention Unit and the Crime Information Management Centre.
Naidu said the task team also investigated a possible link between the men and several other cases of murder, attempted murder, business and house robberies and robberies with aggravating circumstances.
It emerged in court on Monday that Mthathi has two previous convictions for murder and police had issued a warrant of arrest for him in connection with another robbery.
Twane has convictions for housebreaking with intent to steal, robbery and assault.
The pair also have a pending case against them for robbery with aggravating circumstances and the illegal possession of a firearm.
While Lizo Ntseta will appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for his formal bail application, Mthathi, Twane and Lubabalo Ntseta had their case postponed to February 27 for further investigation.
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