THE case of the four men accused of mass murder on New Year's Day in Block P (Jukulyn) Soshanguve, Tshwane, has been postponed.
The case has been postponed to Tuesday, 30 January by the Soshanguve Magistrates Court.
Sizwe Msibi, the third suspect, briefly appeared in the court on Tuesday, 9 January, but his case was struck off the register as his 24-hour period had expired.
The Hawks resumed the case on Thursday, 11 January.
Msibi appeared briefly in court on Friday, 12 January together with three other suspects, Tshepo Mosemeni, Sipho Kgomo and George Nyathi, who are accused of four murders and one attempted murder.
George Nyathi, who was hospitalised at his last appearance, came to court with two black eyes, a severe cut on the upper left part of his eye and head that required stitches and a swollen half of his face.
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Steven Magoro, the defence lawyer, presented Nyathi's medical certificate to the court.
"We will not be making an application for bail today because the formal application for bail will be made on Tuesday, 30 January," he said.
He said that he would appeal based on the media coverage of the case.
"I want to know if formal applications have been made, to whom and in what proceedings and why we were not given the opportunity to be part of the proceedings," Magoro said.
He said he will also enquire how the other suspect, Msibi, was re-arrested after his case was struck off the records as he had already been detained for 48 hours and he is not in a position to legally represent him in the case.
He also stated that he will take over the representation of all the accused after the previous lawyer submitted a letter officially withdrawing from the case.
The families of the deceased were present during the court hearing.
Koketso Kolakapatlo, the sister of the deceased Gopolang Molakapatlo, said her gogo's health had deteriorated after the third suspect, Msibi, was released.
"The case is doing more harm than good. My grandmother, who was hospitalised when my sister died, was readmitted today," she said.
Nandipha Ziwele, the mother of Vuyolwethu Ziwele (14), who was also killed in the shooting, noted that they were yet to receive therapy.
Non-governmental organisations and members of the EFF in Tshwane, as well as community members, supported the families by demonstrating and chanting outside the court and carrying placards saying that the suspects mustn't be granted bail.
