UMLAZI MAGISTRATE COURT, July 4, 2006
Yesterday morning at Umlazi Magistrate Court Judge Sam Harrylal presided over the second bail hearing for the two men accused of shooting Komi Zulu. In what appears to be a political assasination, Zulu, a community leader in E-Section Umlazi, was shot and killed at 5 a.m. on June 3rd, 2006.
Zulu was on his way to work when he was attacked by two men who shot him several times before fleeing the scene. The applicants were arrested from Councilor Bhekisas Xulu's residence. One of the men was an occasional driver for the councilor.
The courthouse was packed with more than a hundred community members in red shirts as well as a group of supporters for the applicants wearing ANC t-shirts, some with images of Councilor Xulu. Many people were forced to remain outside the overcapacity courtroom.
Tensions ran high throughout the day, as testimony was heard from the Investigating Officer, Sibusiso James Mbikwana. Testimony was also heard for the defense from regional ANC Youth League leader Sibonelo Mthembu, who offered to house the applicants if released on bail at his place of residence in Chesterville.
Councilor Xulu himself made a brief appearance at the courthouse.
Both Mbikwana and Mthembu agreed under examination that there has been political violence and tension occurring in E-Section since local elections on March 1st, 2006.
As a woman from E-Section explained outside the courthouse, "The people they are scared. These two men are really dangerous. They say today is the day they get out and they say them will come and kill us. But I don't care. There is nothing we can do. If they want to come kill us they will kill us."
The prosecution objected to bail, citing the potential for violence against the applicants or against witnesses in the case. Investigating Officer Mbikwana also recommended that bail not be given to the two accused men.
Mbikwana presented to the court a petition created and signed by nearly 300 community members in Ward 80 pleading for bail to be denied. The petition explained that violence in the community has decreased since the two men had been apprehended.
As the two factions spilled out of the courthouse, tensions mounted, and a number of journalists were threatened for taking photographs, and accused of unfair reporting for not interviewing Councilor Xulu. There was a brief confrontation between the two groups before the crowd began to disperse.
The case will continue this Friday, July 7th at the Magistrate Court in Umlazi.
