Police and the justice department shut down public access to the East London court where two men accused of killing Beacon Bay police detective Sergeant Siphiwo Sahluko were to appear.
No reasons were given for the exclusion, but it emerged from a Hawks’ statement on Thursday that Sahluko was killed inside his mother's tavern in Beacon Bay’s Nompumelelo township on Sunday night.
Sahluko’s alleged killers, Sinethemba Sikoti and Andile Marwanqa, both 30, are appearing in connection with the slaying.
In an unexpected move, the media and public were barred from attending the court proceedings.
The Dispatch made several efforts to try to get past three private security guards at the door.
The guards said they had been instructed by police and court officials to keep the public out.
The acting court manager, who did not give her name, said “my hands are tied”.
Asked to explain the public ban, the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) denied any responsibility with the NPA’s spokesperson, Tshepo Ndwalaza, pointing at the justice department.
Justice spokesperson Max Mpunzana promised to respond to the Dispatch's e-mailed questions after getting approval but failed to do so.
The accused were arrested at the airport in dramatic fashion by the police tracing team on Tuesday morning, allegedly trying to fly out of the province.
One of them was found inside the airport's ceiling. The airport was evacuated for half an hour during the hunt for the suspects. They were traced through a rental car which they had returned that morning.
In a media statement on Thursday, Hawks spokesperson Captain Anelisa Feni said: “The two suspects allegedly visited the tavern during the afternoon and Sahluko asked one of them to leave. It is unclear at this stage why he did so.
“It is alleged that both suspects left but returned at approximately 8pm and shot and killed him.”
Feni said the two face charges of murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. The case was postponed to October 2 and they would remain in custody until then.
According to Feni a Z88 pistol, which may have been used to kill Sahluko, was found at an undisclosed place in Ncerha village outside East London.
The weapon was found by the Hawks’ serious organised crime investigating unit...