Soldier linked to shooting spree‚ kidnapping asks for bail

A soldier - the alleged triggerman in a bloody shooting spree - will continue his bid for bail next week.

Thembinkosi Ngcobo‚ 26‚ faces charges of murder‚ attempted murder‚ kidnapping and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

He appeared in the Ntuzuma Magistrate's court on Friday where his application for bail began.

His attorney‚ Sizwe Cele‚ said that because the proceedings began only at 2pm‚ his application had been rolled over to the last day of the month.

Ngcobo‚ a South African National Defence Force rifleman stationed at 8SAI in Upington in the Northern Cape‚ is accused of going on a rampage two weeks ago after suspecting that his girlfriend had cheated on him.

He is understood to have driven to Ntuzuma‚ Durban‚ from Upington and stands accused of storming the family home while looking for his girlfriend.

Nokwanda Mbambo was shot and another relative was wounded.

A short while later‚ after he allegedly kidnapped his girlfriend's brother to enlist his help in a search for his girlfriend‚ a policeman was wounded while attempting to confront Ngcobo. A third person was also injured.

Ngcobo spent two days on the run before arriving at his family homestead in Ebuhleni‚ Inanda‚ in civilian clothes‚ allegedly still carrying his military-issue assault rifle.