Coka brothers: Five men accused of farm murder released on R10 000 bail

The Piet Retief Magistrates Court granted the five men who stand accused of murdering Zenzele and Mgcini Coka, on 9 April at a Mpumalanga farm, bail of R10 000 each on Friday. Tensions in the small farming community have been high and many were fiercely opposed to the suspects receiving bail.

COKA BROTHERS MURDER-ACCUSED GRANTED BAIL

During the bail application, the lawyers of the five suspects – Daniel Malan, Cornelius Greyling, Othard Klingberg, Michael Sternberg and Senzele Yende – argued that their clients have no previous criminal objections and reside at permanent addresses.

Magistrate Simon Fankomo found the argument compelling and that the accused were able to demonstrate that it is in the best interest of justice that they be released on bail. The five suspects, who are facing charges of murder, attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice and kidnapping, were released on bail of R10 000 each.

The matter has been postponed until 30 June for further investigation.

On 9 April, seasonal farmworkers in the area allegedly went to a farm in Pampoenkraal, Mpumalanga to ask the owner why they have not been employed this year. According to police, a scuffle between the farmworkers and farmers broke out and the Coka brothers were allegedly shot and killed.

COMMUNITY UNREST AS TENSIONS RISE IN MPUMALANGA

The death of the Coka brothers has ignited racial tensions in the town and members of the community were calling for the suspects to be denied bail. At an earlier bail application, on 19 April, the South African Police Service (SAPS) had to use tear gas to disperse a crowd of protestors outside the Piet Retief Magistrates Court.

Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety and Security Vusi Shongwe previously expressed concern about the events that could unfold if the suspects were granted bail. “If you look at the number of people who are here and the political parties, all of them are speaking in one voice saying these people must not get bail.”

“If they are going to get bail, these people [the protestors] are going to be a task for the police to manage, and that is my view and concern,” said Shongwe on Thursday.