Pretoria - Charges against the four Tshwane University of Technology students who were nabbed in connection with the murder of Sinakho Masuku were provisionally withdrawn on Monday.
The suspects; Sibusiso Ntshangase, 25, Lindukuhle Mahlobo, 21, Mthokozise Sithole, 23, and Malusi Khoza, 22, appeared briefly in the Soshanguve Magistrate’s Court where the court heard the four could not be directly linked to the death of Masuku. The court had previously heard that a mob of about 20 were involved in the matter and more arrests needed to be made.
The four faced charges of murder, attempted murder, and assault with intention to cause grievous bodily harm. Six more students were arrested at the weekend in connection with the incident, but were subsequently released before they could be formally charged. Masuku was beaten to death and another student was critically injured during an alleged gang-related incident three weeks ago.
The dispute started more than a month ago when rival gangs from Nongoma and Pongola attended the funeral of a mutual friend in KwaZulu-Natal. On their way back from the funeral, the two gangs had an altercation which led to grudges and the fatal attack.
Pretoria News