CAPE TOWN – A 19-year-old murder suspect believed to be involved in the mass shooting that killed nine people in Marikana, Philipi East, has been remanded in custody and his case postponed for a bail application and further investigation.
Bheki Manxiwa appeared in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on Monday (26 January) and was charged with nine counts of murder, attempted murder and two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances.
He was arrested on Friday 23 January in relation to the mass killing at a shebeen at Marikana informal settlement in Philippi East on Saturday 17 January.
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Eric Ntabazalila, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority in the Western Cape, explained that since this is a Schedule 6 offence, the onus rests on the accused to prove to the court that his release on bail would be in the interests of justice.
Ntabazalila emphasised that the state would oppose his bail application.
“The state alleges, as stated in court, that the accused and others were sitting and drinking in another area. A suspect brought a firearm with an extended magazine to another suspect named Loyd. They then went to the tavern in Marikana where they shot a woman, who was co-owner of the tavern, and nine patrons. Nine people died and another patron is in a critical condition in hospital. The accused then robbed the deceased of their cellphones and money.”
The other two suspects are still at large.
Ntabazalila said the accused is linked to the crime through confession (he confessed to two people) and other witnesses. He said there were three more witnesses the officers still needed to interview who could link the accused to the mass shooting.
A community leader who refused to be named for fear of reprisals described the arrest as a breakthrough, and he expected other suspects to be arrested soon.
“We can’t hide the fact that we are excited by the breakthrough… Our wish is to see all the culprits rot in jail.”
He said community members would be the eyes and ears of the police, since crime in Marikana was getting out of hand. He appealed for more officers to be deployed in the area.
