Johannesburg - The man accused of the murder of rugby player Thulane Popoyi has been set free.
Sydney Moshapo, owner of the Dollar Table bar in Melville, where the hacked body of Popoyi was found in October, on Thursday appeared briefly in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.
The State withdrew the murder case as no new evidence had been brought forward. The investigating officer also failed to appear in court at the last three appearances.
Colin Law, who was a guardian to Popoyi, said the outcome of the case was shocking. “We can’t believe it. We are taking the matter forward. He (Moshapo) smiled at the family as he walked out of the courtroom.”
DA spokeswoman on safety and security Kate Lorimer said the matter had been escalated to the police inspectorate.
She said a letter of complaint was sent to the provincial inspectorate complaint investigation in October already and they had been in communication with the directorate until December, when they were told the matter would be dealt with.
Popoyi, 28, was stabbed several times in the chest and neck with a panga-like object and was left for dead outside the Melville bar.
Business owners in the area had complained about Moshapo previously, claiming he had threatened them in the past.
Melville ward councillor Amanda Forsythe said the bar had been closed down several times during raids, but would open up again soon after.
“There are never any follow-ups to the raids and there are always stories of fights and all sorts of terrible stuff going on there,” said Forsythe.
She said the bar had no valid trading licence and was operating on the licence of a restaurant that closed down about 13 years ago.
The Star