Protesters demand life sentences for taxi killers

27 June 2016 - 14:38 By Zwanga Mukhuthu

Four men who allegedly hijacked and murdered a Mdantsane taxi driver abandoned their bail application in the East London Magistrate's Court on Monday morning. The accused - Silumnko Madoda‚ Siphelele Majuda‚ Mbongeni Simnka and Luthando Liba - appeared before bail magistrate Nceba Madlavu shortly after 9am facing a charge of murder.A group of about 30 taxi drivers affiliated to the Mdantsane Taxi Association Forum gathered outside the court. The drivers were united in protest over the bail hearing. They were carrying placards with words such as "Give taxi killers life sentences".The court case relates to the June 19 incident in which taxi driver Melisizwe Falteni‚ 27‚ was hijacked in NU9. He was later shot dead and his body was dumped in Cambridge.The four accused are alleged to have then driven Falteni's small taxi to East London where they gave a woman a lift before robbing her.The woman later managed to escape and reported the robbery to police. The suspects were arrested in the deceased's vehicle later that evening. They were found in possession of a firearm and further police investigation caused the suspects to lead police to Falteni's bodies in the bushes of Highgate‚ Cambridge.The accused will be back in court on August 5. Police investigations are continuing.TMG Digital/Daily Dispatch..

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