The bail applications of five people accused of murdering and robbing conservationist Franz Richter were postponed due to a power failure at the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The bail applications of Johnson Chirwa, Dumisani Xulu, Gilbert Mosadi, Ronnie Khumalo and Xeliwe Mbokazi were postponed until January 21.
Earlier, all five accused pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The bail applications resumed briefly at 2pm after a lunch break, but proceedings were halted only minutes later due to the power failure.
Richter was shot and killed in November last year at his Muldersdrift farm, west of Johannesburg, the Heia Safari Ranch. He was 80 when he died.
At the time, his daughter Gaby Burgmer said he was shot in the head and chest on the property of the ranch
Burgmer said her father, who immigrated to South Africa in 1952 with only 20 pounds in his pocket, was the founder of the ranch and became a ”legendary” man who was still fit and active and had many plans for conservation and tourism.
In his court affidavit, Khumalo said he had been visiting friends at the time of the murder and ”could not have possibly been at two places at one time”. At the time, he was employed as a security guard with Interactive Security.
Mbokazi, who is seven months pregnant, was employed at the Heia Safari Ranch as a domestic worker. She also lived on the property.
Chirwa, Xulu and Mosadi told the court they were unemployed.
The four men were arrested in November and Mbokazi in December.
Protest
On Tuesday morning, about 50 people gathered outside the court to protest against the ”inexcusable” murder of Richter.
Protesters, singing and dancing to the beat of drums, held placards, some reading: ”Bring back the death penalty”, ”No bail! Give the murderers to us!” and ”Actions not words. 2010?”.
Burgmer, organiser of the protest, said her father’s murder had affected tourism in a ”big way”.
She said the recent murders of KwaZulu-Natal birder Robin Guy and a KwaZulu-Natal chef were inexcusable.
”The government needs to look after us. It is our constitutional right to be looked after in our country,” Burgmer said, adding that everyone who had gathered felt the same way.
She said the government needs to close the country’s borders and ”get rid of illegal people”. Corruption, intimidation and bribery also needs to be stamped out.
All the accused were South African citizens, the court heard. — Sapa