Cop testifies in bail bid

One of the nine police officers implicated in the murder of Daveyton taxi driver Mido Macia, testified in the Benoni Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

   

The officers were re-applying for bail after their legal representatives told the court they had new evidence which could see the court overturn its earlier decision to deny them bail.

   

Warrant officer Meshack Malele, 46, told the court he was a father of six, with two wives who were unemployed. He said he was not a flight risk.

   

He read out an affidavit by taxi marshall Julius Skhosana, who was present the day Macia was handcuffed to the back of the police

van and dragged down the street.

   

Macia was found dead in a local police cell several hours later. The incident, which occurred in February, was filmed and later went viral.

   

In the statement, Skhosana said the officers had accused Macia of being disrespectful after he requested his driver's license back.

   

Present in court was Badansile Ngwenya, from whom Macia had rented a room. Ngwenya, who has attended court proceedings since the beginning of the case, was emotional as the statement was read.

   

She silently wept and wiped tears from her eyes. Macia's family live in Mozambique and were not present at Tuesday's proceedings. The families of the accused officers, however, packed the four-bench court gallery.

   

- Sapa