Cape Town - Two of four men accused of the rape and murder of Bongiwe Ninini, 20, and dumping her mutilated body in an unused drain, abandoned their planned bail application in the Khayelitsha District Court on Monday.
The remaining two proceeded with their applications before Magistrate V Mnyani.
Because the charges against the four include rape, the suspects may not be named until they plead to the charges when their trial commences.
At Monday’s proceedings, the State opposed bail for the two, on the grounds that they were likely to evade their trial.
The investigating officer, Sergeant Isembenzile Fudumele, urged the court to refuse bail because of the circumstances of the case.
He said the docket contained a community petition signed by 169 people who did not want the men released on bail.
Fudumele feared the release of the men on bail would disturb the public order, he said.
He said he was aware that the court had the power to set stringent bail conditions and believed that the State had a strong case against all four.
The lives of the four men would also be in danger if released on bail, Fudumele said.
He added: “With each court appearance, there have been a lot of people outside protesting with placards against the release of the men on bail.”
One placard read: “No bail for killers”, he said.
The hearing continues on November 16.
ANA