TWO suspects arrested on Tuesday morning in connection with the New Year's Day mass shooting in Soshanguve, Tshwane will appear in court on Thursday, 4 January.
The men, aged 30 and 33, will appear in Soshanguve Magistrates Court facing four counts of murder.
Residents were outside the court at 7.30am to show their support for the victims' families.
Koketso Malakapatla (30), the sister of Telson Phomolang Malakapatla, said she did not know what to expect. But she said whatever the court decided was fine with her because it would have been God's will.
Tessa Mokhare, the godmother of slain policeman Mpho Kgobotlo, believes that justice will prevail.
Yandiswa Nhlapo, the aunt of the 14-year-old victim, said the family wished the court would simply release the suspect and leave the community to deal with him.
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has condemned the mass killings in Tshwane and other murders.
According to a representative of Richard Mamabolo, they are deeply saddened by these tragedies. What is particularly worrying is that this follows an unbroken string of police deaths over the past year, affecting both on-duty and off-duty officers.
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He said the issue of police killings was one of the most hotly debated topics during their 10th Popcru National Congress in November 2023 and that they agreed that the killing of cops should be considered high treason.
"Legislative amendments, including amending earlier sections of the Criminal Procedure Act (Section 205), are required to ensure that the law better protects police officers.
"These are mid-term goals. In the short term, we urge members of the police force to be vigilant, to be aware of their surroundings, especially when they are in uniform because it makes them a target, and to act decisively when their lives are clearly in danger," he said.
Residents will hold a memorial service and light candles on Thursday, 4 January to remember those affected and celebrate their lives.
