Pretoria - Two murder cases. Two police blunders. Four families in agony and a community outraged. In the same courtroom at Boksburg Magistrate’s Court, over a period of three days this week, the charges against two separate high-profile murder suspects were withdrawn – allegedly because investigators failed to do their jobs.
On Friday, the same intense emotions played out once again in Courtroom A. Residents of Reiger Park had gathered once again in Boksburg to show their condemnation of the man they insist is responsible for the death of 4-year-old Taegrin Morris.
Three months ago, the boy was killed in a hijacking when he was dragged for kilometres on the side of his mother’s stolen vehicle.
It was only earlier this month that police arrested Thamsanqa Brutus Twala, who was initially set to apply for bail on Friday morning.
The brutality of Taegrin’s death incensed the small community, prompting loud outbursts at Twala’s earlier appearances, with some residents threatening to kill the man if he was released from custody.
These outpourings resulted in police surrounding the courthouse premises in razor wire and using at least two dozen officers to patrol the crowd of Reiger Park residents who arrived on Friday.
Tight security meant only a certain number were allowed in court, but proceedings lasted barely five minutes. The court was told that charges were withdrawn against Twala, who did not appear in person for his own safety. Even before the presiding magistrate stood up to leave the room, the crowd inside court erupted with emotional shouts.
“We’re not going to leave it like this,” one woman screamed, tears forming in her eyes.
The prosecutor handling the case immediately rushed out of the room, and was not seen leaving the courthouse. Taegrin’s father, Elwin, was immediately escorted from court, with reporters later told he simply could not handle his emotions after hearing Twala was to be released.
Outside court, Twala’s mother-in-law watched as the angry mob of people screamed death threats at her son. She was escorted by police from the premises, looking upset as the crowd continued to chant for his head, and those of the officials who had failed them.
“We will kill his children. We will drag them like Taegrin,” shrieked one woman.
Community leader, Hein April did his best to calm the crowd, but told media: “If the people take the law into their own hands, we can’t stop them.”
Taegrin’s great aunt, Gladys Smith, almost burst into tears as she told reporters Taegrin had fewer civil rights than a dog.
On Tuesday morning, Zanokuhle Mbatha, the man believed to have killed Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana captain, Senzo Meyiwa, was brought to the court for what was meant to be routine proceedings.
A sudden announcement revealed the National Prosecuting Authority believed it did not have enough evidence to pursue a case against Mbatha, and he was immediately released from custody.
Mbatha’s family broke down outside the court, his mother covering her face with a scarf to hide her tears while other relatives shouted they knew police had fingered the wrong suspect.
Meyiwa’s father, Sam, was equally disappointed with police, but told media outlets the family were desperate for the real suspects to be held and justice to be served.
Meanwhile, in a small office at the Boksburg police station, Twala’s mother-in-law, thanked God that her son-in-law had been released from custody, but wanted to make sure that the Morris family knew how sorry she was for their loss.
“I know I would have died if that happened to my child,” she said.
Numerous attempts to contact the National Prosecuting Authority were unsuccessful on Friday.
Pretoria News Weekend