Protesters oppose bail for man accused of killing wife

Vuyisile Poni's friends and neighbours spent Valentine's Day morning picketing in front of a Cape Town court.

Their perfect gift would be seeing her husband‚ Mzuvukile Poni‚ remain behind bars. He was arrested for allegedly stabbing his 30-year-old wife to death on January 2. He was set to apply for bail in the Wynberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

But the community of Westlake is so determined to ensure that the application is denied that they appealed to the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation for help.

Steenkamp was killed by her boyfriend‚ Oscar Pistorius on Valentine's Day four years ago. Members of the foundation and other women's rights organisations joined the protest.

The foundation‚ which works to highlighting violence against women and children‚ also drew up a petition which has been signed by more than 1000 people. Residents and witnesses claim he is a danger to the community and should not be released.

Vuyisile's best friend‚ Nicole Elliot‚ said she was in the process of getting a divorce. “They hadn’t been living together for several years. He moved to Joburg‚” Elliott said.

Speaking about the petition‚ she said: “We’re trying to get as many signatures as possible. But it’s not really about the number‚ it’s more about getting people to feel like they can say something and have a voice.”

- TMG Digital/The Times