Power outage delays bid for bail by Vlakfontein murder accused

An electrical fault delayed the bail application on Tuesday of two men implicated in the gruesome murder of a family in Vlakfontein.

Sixty-one-year-old Fita Khupe and his 27-year-old co-accused were expected to apply for bail but a power outage forced the Lenasia Magistrate's Court to postpone proceedings to Wednesday.

Prosecutor Tumi Maunye told the court that an electrician had come from Midrand to assess the damage. "The electrician said the problem was caused by burnt wires. He has gone to look for parts," said Maunye. He said electricity would not be restored by Tuesday.

Magistrate Maggie van der Merwe postponed the matter, saying it would be impossible to proceed without electricity.

"As you are aware, we've been here since the morning and we've had no electricity ... We have been waiting. We are sitting in the dark. Nothing operates without electricity."

She said it was important that the matter be heard as soon as possible as she would be on leave in the next two weeks.

"It's imperative that we get started with the matter. Otherwise the bail hearing will be severely delayed," she said.

"This is a catch-22 situation. I allocated tomorrow [Wednesday] for the investigating officer to come and testify. The other problem is that I am only available until Thursday. I am thereafter not available for two weeks," she said.

The 27-year-old accused in the matter may not be named as he faces three rape charges and is yet to plead.

The court has heard how he and Kuphe had submitted statements to the police.

It was also revealed that the two appeared not to be on good terms, with the younger man claiming that Khupe had threatened him.

Vlakfontein residents alleged that Khupe had been involved in a romantic relationship with one of the women who was found killed and buried in a shallow grave in the family home. They had been dating for at least a decade.

The 27-year-old suspect was alleged to have introduced himself to the Khoza family under the false name of Sibusiso Khoza, claiming to be a long-lost relative. He made contact with them via Facebook.

The court heard earlier that this was not his real name and he was an illegal immigrant from Zimbabwe. He was arrested while trying to cross the border back to Zimbabwe just days after the decomposed bodies of the family members were found by police.

Meanwhile, Vlakfontein residents have signed a petition demanding that the two men be denied bail. Ace Mokoenyane, Ward 122 councillor, said 1,200 people had signed the petition.

"The petition is about them being denied bail. They must be denied bail because they are unaccepted in our community... This came as a shock to all of us," said Mokoenyane.

He was speaking outside the court building. A group of community members, clad in ANC regalia, chanted songs and danced while an elderly woman burnt impepho [incense] calling for the ancestors to heed their prayer that bail be denied to the two accused.