Protesters gather outside Soweto court as taxi drivers appear for slaying women

A small group of protesters has arrived at the Protea Magistrate's Court in Soweto in support of the families of two slain friends‚ Popi Qwabe and Bongeka Phungula‚ who were killed last month.

Some were clad in black T-shirts with #JUSTICE4POPI&BONGEKA emblazoned across them. The group filled Court 7 to capacity.

This was as the continuation of the bail hearing was delayed because the attorneys representing the two taxi drivers accused of the murders were late.

"The attorneys are not here‚" magistrate Herman Bardenhorst told the packed gallery.

The court is expected to continue hearing the bail application of Alec Mamothame‚ 43‚ and co-accused Sandile Nkosi‚ 25.

Both men are taxi drivers and the court has heard their presentations for bail.

They allegedly killed Phungula‚ 28‚ and Qwabe‚ 24‚ on May 12. Phungula's body was found in Tladi‚ while Qwabe's body was found in Naledi.

Mamothame said in a statement previously read out to the court by his lawyer‚ Themba Tshabalala‚ that he was driving his taxi at about 8pm in Zola when he was hijacked. He said he had two women and three men as passengers. He‚ however‚ managed to escape by jumping out of the moving car.

He said he then informed his boss‚ Boys Mkhwanazi‚ who later called a car tracking company. He said the car was found abandoned in Mapetla in Soweto.

Nkosi was allegedly found in possession of one of the deceased's cellphones which he said he found in the taxi. He said he took the phone home when he could not trace the owner‚ adding that he had no knowledge of the case.

- SowetanLIVE