Marry Me Murders: Accused facing 16 counts
The state successfully applied for the two cases against a 27-year-old man linked to the Soshanguve murders to be joined in the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court Tuesday.
The man, whose identity may not be published at this stage, now officially faces 16 counts related to the incident, including murder and attempted murder, after a witness pointed him out during an identity parade.
He was arrested last month following an attack on 12 community patrollers at the Marry Me Informal settlement.
READ:Killing of Soshanguve patrollers highlights ‘grave dangers’
The man again told the court he would not be applying for bail after the murder case, for which he appeared in court on Monday, was merged with an earlier matter for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
The state has asked for the accused’s identity to be withheld as investigations continue.
“Not all witnesses have come forward. The investigating officers are still looking for more witnesses wherein they can then conduct an identity parade,” explained the National Prosecuting Authority’s Lumka Mahanjana.
Last week, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi told Marry Me residents, during a memorial service for the victims, that three people had been arrested and two of them had confessed to the murders.
[WATCH] Despite the NPA confirming that 2 suspects who appeared before the Pretoria North Mag Court have not been charged for the murder of 6 community patrollers in the #MarryMe informal settlement, Premier Panyaza Lesufi tells the community that they have confessed pic.twitter.com/GOTL1tAoyr
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) March 26, 2025
The NPA, however, was yet to confirm claims of a confession from the accused.
READ: Suspects ‘not linked’ to Soshanguve killings - NPA
The matter’s been postponed to 17 April for further investigation.
Meanwhile, a 50-year-old man arrested at the same time as the accused has not been linked to the murders.
Justice Baloyi appeared briefly before the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
Mahanjana has reiterated that Baloyi has not been charged for last month’s attack on the community patrollers.
However, he faces schedule five charges related to the discovery of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
She said the weapon would be taken for ballistic testing.
“While the police were investigating the incident in Soshanguve, they stumbled upon this man. He was then arrested for being in possession of [an unlicensed] firearm and ammunition…
“The investigation is ongoing. If in future he is linked to the murder of the patrollers, then those charges will be [added] against him.”
After Baloyi expressed his intention to apply for bail, the matter was postponed to next Thursday for a formal bail application.
The state said would oppose his release on bail.
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