Support for Sanders family as trio appear

INLSA

Samuel Mabena, Chris Moyo and Paida Fish are accused of killing former world heavyweight boxing champion Corrie Sanders. Photo: Etienne Creux

Pretoria - A group of Oukasie residents, an informal settlement where three Zimbabweans accused of murdering former world heavyweight boxing champion Corrie Sanders were arrested, came out in full force on Monday to support the Sanders family during the three’s appearance at the Brits Magistrate’s Court.

The late boxer’s brother Mike said it was comforting to the family to see so much support.

“I have known many of these men for years and some of them worked for me before,” he said.

Mike, sister-in-law Noekie and his mother Alida sat in a crammed public gallery as Samuel Mabena, 27, Chris Moyo, 25, and Paida Fish, 19, appeared in the dock. They face charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

State prosecutor Matric Luphondo said that Legal Aid lawyer Japhter Mapadimeng had been appointed to represent Fish and Moyo while an advocate, known only as De Jager, had been appointed for Mabena.

The prosecutor told the court that De Jager had mistakenly gone to the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate’s Court as he thought the matter was being heard there. The case was postponed to November 13 to finalise legal representation.

Mabena also briefly appeared in a separate murder case with co-accused Bismark Dick. It is alleged he had been involved in the murder of a farmer, Marius Oberholzer, who was found dead on his farm near Brits on September 5. The matter was also postponed.

Sanders was shot at the Thatch Haven Country Lodge outside Brits during an armed robbery on September 22. He had been attending the 21st birthday party of his nephew, Michael, when three men stormed in and demanded customers lie on the floor and hand over their valuables.

When they fled the scene, shots were fired, and Sanders was hit in the hand and stomach. He died of his injuries at the Kalafong Hospital the next day.

Outside court, Mike said the family were in constant communication with the State advocate handling the case. “He is very supportive to the family and we trust the case is in good hands,” he said.

On the night of the shooting a family member called 10111 to report the shooting, he said. She was told that the shooting was not in the jurisdiction of the police and they could not assist.

He said he had handed the matter over to the head of investigations at AfriForum, Nantes Kelder, who would take the matter further.

Pretoria News