Coligny farmers' bail application to continue
The bail application of two farmers, accused of killing a teenage boy in on a farm outside the North West town of Coligny, is set to continue in the local magistrate's court on Wednesday.
26-year-old Pieter Doorewaard and 34-year-old Philip Schutte approached the court with an urgent bail application following their arrest last week.
The town was thrust into the spotlight last week after massive protest action saw almost all shops and businesses on the main street damaged and looted.
On Tuesday, the men pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder, but the state has maintained they should remain in custody until their trial to ensure their own safety as well as public order.
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"We are going to oppose bail because it won't be in the interest of justice for the accused to be released on bail," said North West regional National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Frank Lesenyego.
The court heard affidavits of both men - claiming there were exceptional circumstances warranting their release on bail.
They also questioned the strength of the evidence against them with both accused saying that their ties to the community and family highlights their willingness to comply with any and all bail conditions.
Conditions in the holding cells also came under the spotlight, with the accused saying the conditions are appalling.
Police Brigadier Clifford Kgorane, who forms part of the investigating team, was called by the state to testify on Tuesday afternoon and explained that according to the police officer on duty, the two men arrived at the police station explaining that the child fell from their vehicle.
He questioned how they could leave the child there without calling for help from the scene.
Kgorane testified that the officer on duty informed him that the suspects refused to take him to the scene where the boy was - adding that they had business to do.
Kgorane surprised the court by adding there was an eyewitness to the crime who will testify that the boy was pushed from the bakkie, loaded on, and thrown off again - also that he himself was threatened at gunpoint by the two men warning him not to tell anyone what he saw.
He said they intend adding another two charges to the charge sheet - one of kidnapping and one of defeating the ends of justice.