Three of the seven accused charged with a string of hit murders related to life insurance payouts were granted bail in the Kariega Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
The accused are Siyabulela Mbane, Ntombeko Msome, Xolelwa Gqirana Msome, Monelwa Gwane, Unathi Peter, Luxolo Mjadu, and Phumelele Mango.
They face at least ten charges of murder and more than 40 charges of fraud, of more than R2 million.
Mbane and Mango also face an additional charge for the possession of a firearm.
According to the state, the accused acted with a common purpose when they took out life insurance on unsuspecting victims before having them murdered.
In opposing bail, State Advocate Louis Sinclair said the offences involved a "high degree" of violence, and the firearms seized were all linked to the murders.
Sinclair told the court that the lives of community members were at risk, seeing that innocent bystanders had been shot during the commission of some of the offences.
He also mentioned that two witnesses had already been killed and that Msome allegedly interfered with witnesses from inside prison.
The defence attorneys for the accused is of the opinion that the state's case against their clients is weak.
They listed the personal circumstances of their clients, stating that it constituted exceptional circumstances that permitted their release on bail.
The outcome insofar as bail, is as follows:
The accused were arrested at their homes in Kwanobuhle and Despatch last month.
Police secured warrants of arrest to execute a well-coordinated operation after an intense investigation that spanned 10 months.
The case was postponed to the 18th of January next year for further investigation.
