Bela-Bela cops’ trial postponed

The trial date for four former Bela-Bela police officers charged with, among others, armed robbery, was postponed to Wednesday 13 November.

The men appeared briefly in the Modimolle Regional Court on Monday 23 September.

The office of the clerk of court said that Humbulani Mulaudzi (39), Jan Maswanganyi (33), Sibusiso Makwela (37) and Simon Sebelebele (40) remain on bail of R5 000 each.

Limpopo Hawks spokesperson, Captain Matimba Maluleka, had in recent weeks confirmed the trial date as 23 September, but the trial date has since been postponed to 13 November.

At the time of the four men’s appearance in the lower court in Bela-Bela, the case drew massive interest from members of the general public.

The sensational trial in the Modimolle Regional Court is a sequel to a brazen armed robbery, whereby an amount of R190 000 was allegedly stolen.

The foursome’s bail conditions were that they report to the police station in Bela-Bela once a week, and were warned not to interfere with witnesses.

The interest in the case had over a period of time become low-key, comparable to the first appearance, whereby spectators converged on the court premises in Bela-Bela in big numbers.

SAPS re-enforcements from the Public Order Policing were expected to keep a close eye on the Modimolle Regional Court proceedings, as was the norm at the time of the four suspects’ earlier
court appearances.

The case was also of massive interest to the mainstream media, with the breaking story broadcast on national TV and radio.

According to the Hawks, the four men were charged with kidnapping, corruption and armed robbery.

Mulaudzi, Maswanganyi and Makwela were surprised by the arrival of the Hawks in a sting operation, and rounded up on the premises of the Bela-Bela Police Station, while Sebelebele handed
himself over shortly after the arrests.

— The BEAT