The two men arrested for the assault on baby Marzaan Kruger and her minder Francina Sekhu asked to be released from custody on Wednesday.
Nelson Maphosa, 28, and Geraldt Nyantumbo, 25, asked the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court to be released from custody.
“When I was arrested police said they were looking for my brother. He stole a cellphone and sold it to accused number one [Nyantumbo] and in that regard I ask to be released on free bail,” said Maphosa through the court interpreter.
Nyantumbo told the court he should be released as he had children.
The men were arrested in Alexandra on Saturday after allegedly assaulting the one-year-old baby and Sekhu in the Kruger family home in Robindale in Randburg on Thursday.
The magistrate told the accused they had the right to apply for bail but they had to follow court procedures.
The hearing was not a formal bail application and the accused applied for legal aid and were remanded in custody.
The pair each face two charges of attempted murder and one of robbery with aggravated circumstances.
The case was postponed to May 12 for further investigation. — Sapa