THE Soshanguve New Year mass shooting three suspect's bail application proceedings were postponed again at the Soshanguve Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 31 January.
Tshepo Mosemeni and Sipho Kgomo were initially charged with four counts of murder and one of attempted murder on Thursday, 4 January, followed by the arrest of the other two co-accused, George Nyathi and Sizwe Msibi, on Monday, 8 January.
The formal bail application, scheduled for Tuesday, 30 January, had to be postponed due to the court's inability to determine Sizwe Msibi's whereabouts because he didn't appear in court and had no justifiable explanation.
Mosemeni's defence attorney, Stephen Magoro, stated in court that the suspect has a 9-month-old child and is a breadwinner as he manages a car wash earning around R3 000 per month.
Despite being implicated by a fellow suspect, he was at home with his girlfriend and child, and they had an alibi to back up those allegations.
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The state prosecutor informed the court that the investigative officer in charge had not validated Nosemeni's lawyer's claims regarding the alibi.
The deceased's family members, along with residents, were very pleased with the three suspects' decision to withdraw their bail application.
Vuyolwethu Ziwele's mother, Nandipha Ziwele, told the Daily Sun that the matter had been dragging on for too long.
"There is no way we are going to move on from this; every day, it gets worse because my daughter's absence is felt," she said.
According to the murdered Gopolang Molakapatlo, sister Koketso Molakapatlo, it was a positive first step.
The case has made remarkable progress; it looks like there will be light at the end of the tunnel," she said, adding that Mosemeni's bail application should also be denied next month.
