Cape Town - The defendants standing trial for the murder of 12 people in a massacre in Site B, Khayelitsha, have sought to unmask the sole remaining witness in the case.
The trial of Yanga “Bara” Nyalara and Wanda Tofile continued yesterday.
The duo were arrested in 2022 for the shooting which left 12 people dead and six others wounded.
The pair have been charged with murder, attempted murder, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Yesterday their lawyer asked Lieutenant Colonel Victor Gallant about the reason why the witness, and the State, requested he wear a mask in court. Gallant had testified on Monday that two witnesses died during the police’s investigation; another is on the run and police had just one witness left.
He said the remaining witness had been attacked twice, and was shot at on July 2 while at their residence.
The State applied for the witness to testify anonymously, fearing intimidation by the accused.
The defence attorney told Gallant: “The defence is entitled to a fair trial. You testified that mass shootings were prevalent in Khayelitsha, and happen daily. The witness was in the process of applying for witness protection but didn’t go into the programme, he withdrew … he changed his mind and left the programme. Despite an attempt on him before, the witness is willing to testify but only if he testifies on camera and with a mask?” The court earlier heard the witness wished to wear a mask not to be identified.
Cape Argus