Durban — The bail application for Hillcrest SAPS member Mlungisi Blessing Sikhakhane will now be heard on November 7.
This was after it was adjourned on Wednesday in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court. It had been anticipated that the hearing would take place but Sikhakhane’s counsel Minoj Harripersad asked that it be adjourned.
Sikhakhane is charged with the murders of his long-time girlfriend, Sthembile Ngobese, and his girlfriend of less than five months, Enhle Majola.
He is alleged to have shot the two women in KwaNyuswa where he was renting.
In court Harripersad said there were witnesses the defence still had to consult with, adding that he had only been made aware at a late stage that the Independent Police Investigative Directorate would not be interviewing these witnesses and had no objection to them being used by the defence.
He said he only got the call from the branch commander on Friday.
“Unfortunately due to the lateness of the call I was unable to secure these witnesses in time to consult with them and it is imperative that I do so for the purposes of this bail application,” said Harripersad to Magistrate Wendalynn Robinson.
Before proceedings, the media present in court made an application to record proceedings and take photographs of Sikhakhane.
After consulting with Sikhakhane on the media’s application Harripersad told the magistrate that his client had no issues with proceedings being recorded for audio, however he did not want photographs taken.
He said the reasons were that Sikhakhane was concerned because the investigation was at an early stage, adding that if an identity parade was still to be held, having his photographs taken “would prejudice his matter”.
The individual journalists were asked by the court if they had any responses to the defence’s objection.
All journalists highlighted that Sikhakhane’s pictures had already been circulated on social media before his first appearance in court.
After hearing this application Robinson ruled that photographs could be taken and proceedings recorded.
Outside court Majola’s father said he hoped Sikhakhane would not be granted bail.
This was while Ngobe’s long-time friend Sibusisiwe Dlamini expressed disappointment at the adjournment.
Daily News
Enhle Majola's father Oscar Msomi speaks outside the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court after the bail application for Mlungisi Blessing Sikhakhane was adjourned to November. Msomi says he hopes that Sikhakhane's refused bail @DailyNewssa pic.twitter.com/5nyBina21r
— Anelisa Kubheka (@AnelisaKubheka) October 26, 2022
The bail application for Hillcrest SAPS member Mlungisi Blessing Sikhakhane was adjourned to November in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court. He is charged the with murders of his girlfriends Sthembile Ngobese and Enhle Majozi @DailyNewssa pic.twitter.com/8S5AtKMhb9
Sibusisiwe Dlamini who is Sthembile Ngobese's friend shares how she felt as the bail application for Mlungisi Blessing Sikhakhane was adjourned to November in the Pinetown Mag Court. Sikhakhane is also charged with Enhle Majola's murder. @DailyNewsSA pic.twitter.com/q27pgcaRGO
— Anelisa Kubheka (@AnelisaKubheka) October 26, 2022