Cop-killing Soweto cops granted bail

Two Soweto cops accused of murdering a third police officer during a motor vehicle chase have been released on bail.

This was granted at the Lenasia Magistrate's Court‚ south of Johannesburg‚ on Wednesday where bail was set at R1,000 for Warrant Officer Solomon Mohale‚ 48‚ and Constable Wiseman Ngubane‚ 29.

The two policemen‚ who were arrested on Monday‚ allegedly chased down a car in Soweto‚ believing that it had been hijacked and shot the driver in January.

They later learned that the driver was Constable Nkadi Mautla and planted a fake gun on him‚ the prosecution alleges.

The pair‚ who face charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice‚ applied for bail on Wednesday morning.

Speaking through defence attorney Frans Mahodi‚ they said that they intended to plead not guilty and that they were simply carrying out their duties when the shooting happened.

He also said that the officers do not have passports‚ are employed and handed themselves over to police.

Independent Police Investigative Directorate senior investigator Mantsha Raphesu said‚ however‚ that the facts of the case are contrary to what Mohale and Ngubane had told the court.

He alleged that they had collected bullet cartridges from the scene and had obstructed the ends of justice in doing so.

Prosecutor Elvis Gcweka opposed the bail application‚ but the court granted bail‚ saying that it was in the interests of justice to release the officers.

The matter was postponed to June 17 for further investigations.

– TMG Digital