Cape Town - Emotions ran high outside Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday as the five people accused of the murder of a Parkwood boy made their first appearance.
One of the accused is currently pregnant.
Ezra Daniels, seven, was killed in an alleged gang shooting on Sunday which resulted in a riot in Parkwood as angry residents stoned police.
Residents also marched through the streets and searched for the shooter, who they alleged is a leader of the Junky Funkys gang.
According to witnesses, Ezra was playing in the road with his friends when a white VW Golf drove by and opened fire on a man walking nearby shortly after 5pm.
On Wednesday Cassiem “Thaliem” Bianchi, Ikeraam Bianchi, Marlon Neehuis, Kelly Daniels and Kim Solomons appeared in court for the first time on murder charges.
It is alleged that they were in the VW Golf seen at the shooting.
Scores of Parkwood residents and relatives of the accused were at the court waiting for them to appear.
During court proceedings, Advocate Carl Langeveldt made a request for Kelly Daniels to be moved to the hospital section of Pollsmoor prison as she is pregnant.
Ezra Daniels was killed in an alleged gang shooting. Picture: Supplied
He was advised by Magistrate Goolam Bawa to complete the necessary forms for the request.
The case was postponed to 14 September for a bail hearing and all five accused were sent to Pollsmoor Prison.
Outside court, angry aunties from Parkwood, joined by representatives of NGO Ilitha Labantu, gathered outside court with posters calling for child killers to be given life in prison.
Pastor Paul Phillips of the Voice of Parkwood community organisation says they are still in shock after Ezra’s murder and were picketing to show their unhappiness.
Ilitha Labantu also handed a memorandum to the State prosecutor calling for the courts to make an example of the boy’s killers.
“We are therefore calling for harsher punishments for the killers of Ezra Daniels as we have seen so many women and children being killed and their cases are not receiving the attention it deserves,” the document reads.
Meanwhile, Ezra’s family is busy with funeral arrangements.
“We did not go to court because we were busy getting his death certificate and stuff for the funeral. Die familie moet maar net sterk wees en alles klaarmaak. Ons wil net * ê hy moet gaan rus,” says mom Desireé.
The funeral will be held on Saturday at the Christelike Gemeente church at 8:30am.