The case of the six suspects arrested in connection with the hijacking and murder of Kaizer Chiefs defender Luke Fleurs has been postponed to next Friday for their formal bail application.
The six suspects made a brief appearance at the Roodepoort magistrate’s court on Friday.
Ndumiso Ndura Moswane (26), Fernando Nando Sive (25), Nhlakanipho Dlamini (21), Franky Xaba (25), Maredi Mphahlele (36), and Thembinkosi Hlanikhawu (31) are facing charges of murder (common purpose), robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of firearms, possession of ammunition, and defeating the ends of justice.
Arrested in Soweto
The six suspects were arrested in Slovoville, Soweto, in the early hours of Wednesday.
Police said Luke’s luxury red VW Golf 8 GTI vehicle was recovered on Monday. The vehicle was already stripped of its parts. Police said they believe that the six suspects are part of a syndicate that is responsible for car hijackings in Gauteng. The search for more suspects is continuing.
During the court proceedings, the six suspects went into the dock, sat down, and looked down to cover their faces. All the suspects, save for Moswane and Sive, were wearing face masks.
Magistrate Anneline Africa did not order the suspects to remove their face masks.
The public gallery was fully packed, with Luke’s family members as well as the relatives of the six suspects.
Luke’s father, Theodore Fleurs, and his elder brother, Joshua, were present inside the courtroom.
Mphahlele and Hlanikhawu were shaking their heads, presumably in denial and shocked by the charges laid against them. They did this while the charges were being formally read out in court.
Heavy police presence
There was a heavy police presence inside the courtroom as well.
Gauteng’s crime prevention wardens, also known as AmaPanyaza, were present in court.
Prosecutor Arnold Limekhaya said the state is opposing bail. He requested that the matter be postponed to April 19 to get the bail information regarding the six suspects.
The six suspects told Africa that they want to apply for legal aid, and bring a formal bail application.
Africa postponed the matter to next week Friday, April 19. This for the legal aid applications of the accused to be processed, and for the accused’s formal bail application.
Africa said the suspects are remanded in custody until their next court appearance.
As the suspects were heading to the holding cells, they blew kisses to their family members in the courtroom gallery. This prompted their relatives to ask them where they were being kept.
Father forgives perpetrators
After the court proceedings, Fleurs’ father said the family has “forgiven the perpetrators” responsible for Luke’s murder.
“We forgive the perpetrators that we saw inside court today. But they must not get bail and they must face the full might of the law. It is heartbreaking that such young people are responsible for this crime,” said Fleurs.
Luke’s funeral will be on April 20 in Cape Town.
Luke was shot and killed by two armed men during a car hijacking. This happened at the Shell petrol station at the Constantia service centre in Florida, Roodepoort, Johannesburg. The incident happened last week Wednesday.
Police said the incident happened around 8:30pm on the corner of Hendrik Potgieter road and 14th Avenue.
According to police, Luke drove a red VW Golf 8 GTI into the petrol station. While waiting to be served by the petrol attendant, he was confronted by two armed males. The men had come driving a white BMW 1 Series.
The suspects pointed a firearm at him and took him out of his vehicle. They then shot him once in the upper body. One suspect drove off with Luke’s car, followed by his accomplices in the BMW 1 Series.
Police said Luke was taken to the nearest medical care centre, where he was certified dead on arrival.
Victim tried to fight suspects off
A case of murder and car hijacking was opened for investigation.
Last week, Sunday World exclusively reported on the video footage obtained by police from the petrol station. It depicts Luke engaging in a fierce battle with the two armed men to stop them from stealing his luxury red VW Golf 8 GTI.
But it was all in vain, as they fatally shot him at close range in the upper body.
The footage shows four people travelling in a white BMW 1 Series following Fleurs as he drove into the petrol station.
The four were wearing balaclavas and caps.
Luke was with two other passengers when the murder happened. The two passengers escaped unharmed.
Luke joined Chiefs in October after previously playing for SuperSport United.
After weeks training with the Amakhosi, Luke penned a two-year deal. The deal has an option to renew it at the end of his contract with the Phefeni Glamour Boys.
