Protest against bail of four accused

Residents picketed outside the Khayelitsha court opposing bail of four men accused of raping and mutilating Bongiwe Ninini.

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Cape Town - Khayelitsha residents and members of the ANC Women’s League picketed outside the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday opposing the bail application of four men accused of raping and mutilating a 20-year-old woman.

Bongiwe Ninini’s body was found dumped in an unused drain opposite the Thembani Shopping Mall in July.

She was found with a stab wound in her back, clothed only in a vest.

Masithembe Solanti and Melikhaya Mgushelo, two of the four men accused of her murder, made a brief appearance before Magistrate Vuziwe Mnyani on Wednesday.

Outside court supporters sang Struggle songs while others chanted: “No bail!”.

Nosizwe Mbeki, a Khayelitsha Site C resident, said granting the men bail would be like letting the dogs out to attack. “We do not want them in our community. We are tired of murderers and rapist. We have children we need to protect.”

She said Ninini’s gruesome murder was the last straw.

“Why did they have to rape her and mutilate her? They pulled out her teeth and her eyes; she was incapable of defending herself.

“She did not deserve this at all, in fact no one does.”

An ANC Youth League representative, Andile Mbali said the organisation was tired of young criminals using their age to gain leniency from the courts.

“We are against young criminals giving South African youth a bad name. We are against youth-on-youth violence. There must be no bail.”

Ninini’s neighbour, Ziyanda Fudumela, said she was a friendly and fun-loving person.

“We are saddened by this and we hope they get life imprisonment.”

Social Justice Coalition spokeswoman Nomtetho Kilo said they feared that if the men get bail, residents would take matters into their own hands.

“They have signed a petition expressing how they feel, but if that is ignored we fear they might take justice into their own hands.”

The men are due back in court on September 28.

zodidi.dano@inl.co.za

Cape Argus