Mpumalanga Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe has called for calm from angry Bushbuckridge community who do not want the suspects in the murder of Ehlanzeni Chief Whip to be given bail.
Wearing t-shirts bearing the late John Ndlovu's name, people sang and shouted slogans outside Mhlala Court in an effort for the magistrate not to give bail to the suspects. They were however not happy that bail application was again postponed alleging that the delay would lead to the case thrown out of court.
Addressing the people outside the court after the postponement of the case to 27 June2011, Shongwe called for patience and calm as he asked them to allow the police to investigate.
The late Ndlovu was killed early this year and his body was found near his home after an unidentified man told his wife where to find him.
Four suspects had been arrested and they are still in custody pending bail approval by the court.
The angry community outside the court appealed to Shongwe to ensure that the suspects remained in custody and that they do not get bail. They said alleged that suspects might end up not being prosecuted.
Shongwe told them that he had requested the court to allow him to oppose the suspects' bail application on 27 June 2011.
"I have been here since the first day of the hearing and I will make sure that I come here until justice is done. Although we all come here to oppose for the suspects to be given bail, we must not forget that this is not a kangaroo court, let us wait for the police to finalize their investigations" said Shongwe.
The first three suspects will be represented by the Legal Aid Board whilst one of them will have his own lawyer.
Meanwhile, the MEC has called on the people to support the police adding that the killing of the police officers in the country was unacceptable.
"They are human beings (police) and they are there to protect us, let us not kill them. It is because of hardworking police that there are suspects. We trust that the prosecution will support the good work of these police officers," concluded Shongwe.