/ 11 August 2004

Road-rage accused granted bail

Road-rage murder accused Edward Kekana was granted bail of R5 000 and his case was postponed to August 31 by the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

The call centre supervisor handed himself over to police last Monday after allegedly shooting and killing three people and wounding another in an alleged road rage confrontation last month.

Kekana (34) handed his licensed firearm to police when he turned himself in at the Booysens police station. According to a statement given to police, Kekana had driven a Toyota Conquest with its headlights set on bright in Regina Street, Unigray, around 11:30pm on July 31, while on his way to his sister’s house.

A bakkie with six men followed him to his sister’s house, where an argument ensued. The men 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. Both men died at the scene.

It was not yet clear whether the third man, 32-year-old Frans Chilane from South Hills, who was found outside the bakkie, died of gunshot wounds or when the bakkie overturned.

Verster’s son Stephan (16) was shot in the chest and was in a serious condition.

A 38-year-old man also from South Hills and a 17-year-old boy from Boksburg North were not injured in the incident.

According to affidavits handed up at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday the men killed in the confrontation were part of a gang which terrorised motorists, particularly black motorists. – Sapa