WATCH | Mpumalanga police disperse protesters as farmers deny killing brothers

• Five men face charges of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice for allegedly shooting two brothers on 9 April.
• Zenzele and Mgcini Coka were killed during an alleged scuffle with farmers in Mpumalanga. 
• A gun went off and the accused men deny it was from them. 

Police had to disperse protesters in Mkhondo, Mpumalanga, on Monday as five men appeared in court following the fatal shooting of two brothers on a farm earlier this month. 

Zenzele and Mgcini Coka were shot and killed during an altercation at Pampoenkraal farm on 9 April.

On Monday Danie Malan, Orchard Kligenberg, Cornelius Greyling, Ignitius Steinberg, and Senzele Yende applied for bail in the Piet Retief Magistrate's Court, sitting before Magistrate Simon Fankomo. 

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Mkhondo’s main street, Church street was gridlocked, with businesses and schools closed as protesters descended on the town. Protesters, some clad in ANC and EFF regalia marched the streets with placards. Roads leading to the court were blocked with barbed wire. Police at some point had to disperse a hostile crowd by using stun grenades when they tried to force their way through the wire. 

Police spokesperson Donald Mdhluli said protesters destroyed property and two police vehicles were damaged.

"We also received a report that a man was stabbed. We still have to check and verify if that person has managed to open a case. The incident did indeed happen and our members attended as well as medical personnel."

Protesters also stoned vehicles passing through. By 17:30, the streets had rubble and broken liquor bottles.

In their affidavits, read out in court, Malan and Greyling denied killing the brothers on the day. 

Yende, a foreman, was arrested on 14 April, days after the arrest of the four farmers. 

The five men face charges of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice. 

Message

Presenting their affidavits through their lawyers on Monday, Malan and Greyling said they had responded after there was a message sent to a WhatsApp group about a group intimidating other farm workers and the farm owner. 

Pleading for his release from custody, Greyling said he sent the message to the group around 11:00 and they responded. 

He said the WhatsApp group was used for security purposes because crime was rife in the farming area. 

The men informed the court that during the commotion at the farm, a gun went off, but it was not theirs. 

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Greyling admitted that he had used his firearm to fire warning shots to the ground, adding, “... those were the only shots”.

The men also informed the court that no one was kidnapped and that the farmers had detained the men because he had allegedly assaulted Greyling’s father with a stick.

"I cannot tell the honourable court who fired any of the fatal shots.

"I did not fire any shot at that time and I therefore emphatically deny that I was involved in the killing of any of the deceased," Greyling told the court. 

Hand

Malan also denied the charge of defeating the ends of justice.

He said while he had initially refused to hand over his firearm, which he claims he did not use, he later surrendered it.

Malan said he had refused to hand it over because he believed the police did not have a safe place to secure it at the time.

State prosecutor Robert Molokoane informed the court that the accused faced a schedule six offence, but the accused, through their lawyers, argued otherwise. 

The State also argues that there was common cause from the accused because they had all informed each other, through a WhatsApp group, to respond to the scene, which resulted in the death of the brothers. 

The accused's lawyers argued that the case against them was not schedule six but maybe five, and for Yende, schedule one. 

The men said they intend to plead not guilty and pleaded for their release, saying they would not flee. 

The bail hearing continues on Tuesday when Klingenberg, Steinberg, and Yende are expected to present their affidavits.