The trial of seven men accused of trying to hijack a state vehicle transporting provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Celiwe Binta started in the King William’s Town regional court this week.
The seven, who were arrested late last year for the April 20 2013 incident, are facing 12 charges including theft of a motor vehicle, robbery, attempted murder and unlawful possession of firearms.
The accused, aged from 26 to 35 are Bongani Vantyu, Mzoxolo Gaxa, Siyabonga Tshayela, Siviwe Notshati, Anele Nquma, Xolisa Mazizi and Zimasa Diniso.
Diniso, the only one whose legs and hands were cuffed when he entered the courtroom, was transported from Mthatha’s Wellington Prison by heavily armed correctional services officers. The rest of his co-accused are kept in custody at an East London prison.
Binta was with her driver Mpho Sidhavi and a female passenger Yoliswa Peter when they were accosted by a group of gunmen who allegedly tried to hijack the vehicle at an intersection near Lingelitsha township in Berlin.
Sidhavi had been driving slowly at the time the five men surrounded the car and pointed firearms, including an R5 rifle, at them.
The suspects forced him to stop and one allegedly fired “a couple” of rounds at the commissioner’s vehicle.
Sidhavi maintained control of the vehicle and drove to the Berlin police station despite one of the vehicle’s tyres being damaged in the attack.
According to court papers, after failing to hijack Binta’s vehicle the gang then allegedly went to a nearby house where they held local traditional leader and pastor Reverend Stanley Makinana and his family at gunpoint. They fled in his vehicle taking cellphones and money.
Makinana’s neighbour, policewoman Nothemba Gobe testified yesterday that after Makinana’s vehicle was taken away at gunpoint, she drove around with him in search of the stolen white Nissan bakkie.
“As we were standing on the side of the road, an unknown vehicle that looked like a Toyota Avanza came through and parked next to where we were standing.
“The vehicle had four passengers in it, but no one came out. They just parked there while one of them was busy chatting on the phone.
“I was with Mr Makinana and another lady and when we looked closely at who was in the vehicle, Makinana noticed that the one who was on the passenger seat, was the one who had pointed a firearm to him and his family,” said Gobe.
She told the court they followed the car towards Mdantsane but lost it.
This was before receiving a phone call from one of her friends telling her that Makinana’s abandoned vehicle had been spotted in one of the nearby villages.
Gobe later pointed out Diniso, Vantyu and Nquma as those in the vehicle. The trial continues this morning. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Seven appear for state car hijack bid
The seven, who were arrested late last year for the April 20 2013 incident, are facing 12 charges including theft of a motor vehicle, robbery, attempted murder and unlawful possession of firearms.
The accused, aged from 26 to 35 are Bongani Vantyu, Mzoxolo Gaxa, Siyabonga Tshayela, Siviwe Notshati, Anele Nquma, Xolisa Mazizi and Zimasa Diniso.
Diniso, the only one whose legs and hands were cuffed when he entered the courtroom, was transported from Mthatha’s Wellington Prison by heavily armed correctional services officers. The rest of his co-accused are kept in custody at an East London prison.
Binta was with her driver Mpho Sidhavi and a female passenger Yoliswa Peter when they were accosted by a group of gunmen who allegedly tried to hijack the vehicle at an intersection near Lingelitsha township in Berlin.
Sidhavi had been driving slowly at the time the five men surrounded the car and pointed firearms, including an R5 rifle, at them.
The suspects forced him to stop and one allegedly fired “a couple” of rounds at the commissioner’s vehicle.
Sidhavi maintained control of the vehicle and drove to the Berlin police station despite one of the vehicle’s tyres being damaged in the attack.
According to court papers, after failing to hijack Binta’s vehicle the gang then allegedly went to a nearby house where they held local traditional leader and pastor Reverend Stanley Makinana and his family at gunpoint. They fled in his vehicle taking cellphones and money.
Makinana’s neighbour, policewoman Nothemba Gobe testified yesterday that after Makinana’s vehicle was taken away at gunpoint, she drove around with him in search of the stolen white Nissan bakkie.
“As we were standing on the side of the road, an unknown vehicle that looked like a Toyota Avanza came through and parked next to where we were standing.
“The vehicle had four passengers in it, but no one came out. They just parked there while one of them was busy chatting on the phone.
“I was with Mr Makinana and another lady and when we looked closely at who was in the vehicle, Makinana noticed that the one who was on the passenger seat, was the one who had pointed a firearm to him and his family,” said Gobe.
She told the court they followed the car towards Mdantsane but lost it.
This was before receiving a phone call from one of her friends telling her that Makinana’s abandoned vehicle had been spotted in one of the nearby villages.
Gobe later pointed out Diniso, Vantyu and Nquma as those in the vehicle. The trial continues this morning. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
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