One of the eight men arrested in Polar Park in Gqeberha, for being in possession of illegal firearms, launched his bid for bail in the city's magistrates court on Monday.
Heavily armed police officers accompanied the seven accused as they filled the dock.
One of the accused did not attend the court case as he was remanded in custody until 28 March on a separate matter.
On Monday, 23-year-old Aviwe Solani lodged an application for bail, while his co-accused abandoned their bail bids.
They will be back in the dock on 28 March but will make a virtual court appearance from St Albans Correctional Centre.
During the bail application, Solani's lawyer read a statement into the record, testifying that the accused had left school in grade 7 and was a self-employed mechanic.
The court was told that on the day of the incident on 29 January, Solani was in Booysens Park fixing a friend's television.
While there, he heard what sounded like gunshots and went outside to see what was happening. According to his statement, he saw two men running in the direction of his friend's house, who threw items into the yard.
Solani said he fled into the house as pursuing police fired shots at the fleeing men. He also denied knowing any of the co-accused and denied the allegations against him.
He further accused the police of assaulting him and unlawfully arresting him.
Meanwhile, investigating officer, Zane Bosch, said in his affidavit read into the record, that all eight accused could be placed on the scene and that their swift response had thwarted a possible armed robbery.
Police arrested the suspects after they acted on information about a group of men congregating at the Bloemendal arterial road in Polar Park where they had parked stolen bakkies.
Police seized an AK47, shotguns, pistols, bulletproof vests, surgical masks, and gloves in one of the stolen Nissan bakkies.
According to Bosch's statement, Solani could be placed at the scene, as he was spotted with his co-accused by police who were doing observation duties before they pounced.
Solani will have to wait until Friday to hear whether or not he will be granted bail.
