Pharasae gangster boss Vusimuzi Champ Gebuza and his co-accused Fredah Maphefo Mothulatshepi remain behind bars after their case regarding the murder of Ward 10 Councillor Thabang Masemola was postponed in the Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court.
Masemola was gunned down in Stoffel Park informal settlement area in the Far East of Mamelodi last year.
The case against accused number 1 Fredah Maphefo Mothulatshepi was postponed to 5 June for bail application and the case against accused number 2 Vusimuzi Champ Gebuza was postponed to 4 August to allow police to do further investigation.
The accused appeared in the Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Besides the murder of Masemola, Gebuza faces additional charges of attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition relating to an incident whereby he shot and injured a man in Mamelodi in 2023.
Gebuza appeared in court wearing tracksuits and a face mask to hide his identity while her co-accused Fredah Maphefo Mothulatshepi wore a brown overcoat and looked very nervous.
Both accused are known to the family of the slain Councillor Masemola.
The two were arrested by the Political Killings Task Team two weeks ago and their appearance in court on Tuesday was the second one.
Outside the court South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) members sang and danced while in the process calling for the suspects to be denied bail and be remanded in custody.
Addressing the crowd at the end of the court’s proceedings, SANCO Greater Tshwane chairperson Fire Mashao described accused number 2 Gebuza as a monkey who had phoned him several times threatening to kill him if he didn’t pay him “protection fee”.
He said it was the first time he was seeing Gebuza and was surprised that he is “the monkey” who was phoning him every day, even before Councillor Masemola died; extorting him.
“Now I am saying his ( Gebuza’s) days are numbered and should he be released on bail I will deal with him,” fumed Mashao.
EFF member Elias Msiza of Ward 10 told Tshwane Talks outside the court that he attended the court case to show support for the bereaved Masemola family as well as to condemn the culture of killing Ward Councillors in general throughout South Africa.
“We want justice to take its course and all those who are involved in this matter must be arrested and sentenced to jail terms,” said Msiza.
Msiza believes there are prominent members of the community of Stoffel Park, where Masemola was Councillor, who are still at large though they were involved in planning the murder of Councillor Masemola.
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