Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) president Siviwe Kiva (42) appeared in the Paarl Magistrate’s Court today (4 June), where his bail application was due to commence.

However, the matter was postponed to Monday, 8 June, after the presiding magistrate assigned to hear the application was sick.

The acting magistrate indicated that Kiva’s application would proceed as a schedule 6 bail application.

A schedule 6 bail application involves serious crimes where bail is only granted in exceptional circumstances. This includes crimes such as murder, aggravated rape and armed robbery. In such cases, the burden of proof lies on the accused to convince the court that exceptional circumstances exist that justify his or her release.

According to the charge sheet, Kiva faces one count of murder in connection with the death of Odwa Kohli, who was allegedly killed, or whose killing was allegedly arranged, by Kiva on 27 November 2023 in or near Drommedaris Street in Mbekweni.

Kiva is being represented by William Fullard of Mathewson Gess Attorneys in Cape Town.

Kiva’s appearance in Paarl comes against the backdrop of a separate criminal case in which he was granted R30 000 bail by the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court.

In that matter, he faces charges of murder and attempted murder, also linked to allegations that he hired hitmen during 2023.

Kiva was arrested in Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape on 7 May soon after the Magistrates’ Court in this town withdrew a murder charge against him.

His first appearance in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court was on 11 May, and he then appeared for the first time in the Paarl Magistrate’s Court on 13 May.

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Despite securing bail in the Wynberg case, Kiva remained behind bars because of the pending murder proceedings in Paarl.

As part of the bail conditions imposed in the Wynberg matter, Kiva was ordered to attend all future court appearances until the case is finalised.

“He was also ordered not to have any contact with state witnesses, either directly or indirectly, pending the finalisation of the matter,” Ntabazalila previously told NovaNews.