Road-rage accused Edward Kekana (34) appeared briefly in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
The 34-year-old man from Sophiatown, Johannesburg, was arrested over a road-rage incident at the weekend that left three people dead and one wounded.
Inspector Amanda Roestoff said Kekana remains in custody and the case was postponed until next Tuesday for a bail application.
Kekana faces provisional charges on three counts of murder and three of attempted murder.
His defence counsel, advocate Paul Shapiro, said on Thursday that he is following up a lead that the deceased had allegedly been involved in a prior road-rage incident.
Kekana was arrested on Monday at the Booysens police station.
”Based on facts supplied in the witness’ statement … the man was called in to report at the station, and upon his arrival they read him his rights. He was charged for a triple murder and one attempted murder.”
Roestoff said Kekana drove a Toyota Conquest with its headlights set on bright in Regina Street, Unigray, at about 11.30pm on Saturday night, while on his way to his sister’s house.
A bakkie with six occupants followed him to his sister’s house, where an argument ensued. The men allegedly broke his car window and pulled him out of the car, threatening to kill him. Kekana then allegedly drew his firearm and fired several shots.
The attackers tried to drive away, but their bakkie overturned.
Jan Verster (37), from South Hills, was shot in the stomach. Tony Vilente (65), from Germiston, was shot in the chest and back. The two men, who were both married, died at the scene.
Roestoff said it is not yet clear whether the third man, 32-year-old Frans Chilane from South Hills, who was found outside his bakkie, died of gunshot wounds or when the bakkie overturned.
”Police are awaiting the results of a post mortem to determine the cause of death.”
Verster’s son Stephan (16) remained in a serious but stable condition on a ventilator on Thursday at the Chris Hani-Baragwanath hospital, a spokesperson said. He was shot in the chest.
A 38-year-old man, also from South Hills, and a 17-year-old boy from Boksburg North were not injured. Roestoff said their names cannot be revealed.
On Saturday after the incident, police confiscated Kekana’s firearm, but did not arrest him. It appeared at the time that he had acted in self-defence. — Sapa