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The bail application of one of the accused linked to alleged insurance payout murders in Motherwell has been postponed to Monday next week.
Two of the four accused linked to a double murder involving insurance payout schemes in Motherwell in Gqeberha previously abandoned their bids for bail.
They are Andisiwe Zondani (32) and Siphokazi Mabuto (27).
The quartet face a total of 17 charges comprising two counts of murder, six of conspiracy to commit murder, five of attempted murder, and multiple counts related to the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition
Twenty-nine-year-old Siphamandla Matsha's, bail application got underway on Friday and is set to continue on Monday, while third accused, Ayanda Yekela's bid for freedom is expected to take place on Tuesday.
During the court proceedings on Friday, Matsha took to the stand to lead oral evidence in his schedule six bail application.
He told the court that the state had no case against him and denied involvement in the alleged crime.
He also claimed to have never met up with Zondani and Mabutho.
During cross-examination, state advocate Dail Andrews put it to Matsha that Mabutho said in a statement that he, Zondani, and Yekela were the ones who shot at her aunt Kholelwa Mabutho, her brother Thando Mabutho, Siyanda Mabutho and Thembela Manyashe.
Matsha denied this.
Furthermore, Andrews told the court that Matsha, Yekela, and Zondani received payment from Mabutho for carrying out the hit, in the form of cash sends, electronic bank payments, and cash.
But Matsha denied all of this yet again.
The state also read out a handwritten letter by Mabutho from her prison cell directed to Zondani instructing him to inform the others that they have to resort to witchcraft so that they walk away as free agents.
The State alleges that Mabuto orchestrated a hit on her aunt.
Kholelwa, who works at the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, had named Mabuto a beneficiary on her insurance policies.
According to a statement released by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), a shooting incident at the Mabuto household in Motherwell on 17 April had rendered Kholelwa permanently blind.
Her brother, Thando Mabuto was injured as a result of the shooting.
NPA spokesman Luxolo Tyali said following the attack, Mabuto's boyfriend, Sicelo Manyashe brought his sister, Thembakazi, to assist in caring for Kholelwa.
Almost six months later on 9 October, another shooting took place at the same residence.
This time, six family members were present when Siyanda Mabuto and Manyashe were fatally shot.
"Police investigations have revealed that the crimes were allegedly motivated by a desire to claim insurance payouts and inheritance," Tyali said.
