Alleged mass murderer, Yanga Endrey Nyalara, also known as Bara, made his second appearance in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 18 August. He was joined in the dock by two co-accused persons for the first time.
BARA BACK IN COURT ALONG WITH TWO MORE ACCUSED
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the State added Wandile Tofile and Manelisi Ngumla as the co-accused in some of the charges the “feared Khayelitsha gang boss” faces.
On Thursday, Bara and Tofile were charged with 12 counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder, a count illegal possession of a firearm and a count of illegal possession of ammunition.
The charges are linked to a mass shooting spree that took place in Y-Section, Site B, Khayelitsha on 15 May 2021.
“The State alleges that the two went on a shooting spree, which left Gavin Futho, Mzingisi Mbilini, Mohamed Hassan, Mandlakayise Simelane, Thabiso Simelane, Asemahle Mayekiso, Epgalenga Bathani, Thembile Lemani, Siphiwe Azora, Ahamed Abulla, Alukar Osmar and Omar Osman dead,” said Ntabazalila.
Badru Mohamed, Lundi Manyandela, Bulelwa Mlandu and Bonga Maguganzi survived the shooting spree and are responsible for the attempted murder charges the pair are accused of.
Ngumla was charged along with Bara for six murders in Site C, Khayelitsha on 8 May 2022. Khayalethu Nelani, Athenkosi Bonkolo, Mthokozisi Mhlakaza, Asanda Nofemela, Sivuyile Lubobo and Fundisile Mxhonywa were shot and killed.
“Lwandiso Singama survived the shooting, and the accused are charged with his attempted murder,” said Ntabazalila. “They also face two counts of illegal possession of firearms and illegal possession of ammunition and dealing in drugs.”
BARA AND TOFILE PROMINENT GANG MEMBERS, SAYS STATE
The State also charged Bara and Tofile under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, as they were prominent members of a gang. As previously reported, this gang engaged in extortion of informal businesses, drug dealing and other crimes in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. They also eliminated competing extortion gangs in the area.
READ: ‘Extortion gangster’ Nyalara linked to a number of Khayelitsha mass shootings
Bara, Tofile and Ngumla abandoned their rights to apply for bail, for now. Senior State Advocate Mervyn Menigo requested that the matter be postponed as an extensive investigation must be done.
Reports including forensics, fingerprint comparison, cellphone analysis, drug analysis and ballistic reports, are also outstanding.
Advocate Phindile Moses Vephile, who represents the defence, was not opposed to Menigo’s request.
The matter was postponed to 4 October for further investigation. The accused remain in custody.
Before his arrest in the early hours of 1 July, Bara was considered the most wanted suspect in the Western Cape.
According to Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, the accused is a teacher by profession and he owns eight taxis. Cele told a gathered crowd – at the provincial COSATU protest on 4 August – that community members in Khayelitsha staged a protest after the arrest and told him “Bara is a good man.”
“The guy is charged with 19 dead bodies. So, he is able to bribe our communities. Be careful that criminals do not take over our community structures. It is important that we work together.”
READ: Bheki Cele says Yanga ‘Bara’ Nyalara’s arrest ‘will solve many other cases’
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