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9 months ago
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The community of Diepsloot protesting outside the Randburg Magistrate's Court where five men accused of assaulting and setting alight seven people appeared.
- An accused in the Diepsloot vigilant attack that left seven people dead claims the police duped him.
- The man alleges police lied to him and promised him employment.
- The five suspects are applying for bail.
One of the five men accused of assaulting and setting alight seven people in Diepsloot claimed the police lured him to the police station under the pretext of offering him employment.
The men, who cannot be identified until an ID parade has been conducted, are applying for bail in the Randburg Magistrate's Court, where they are facing charges of kidnapping, murder, attempted murder, and assault to cause grievous bodily harm.
One of the accused is also facing a charge of contravening the Immigration Act.
It is alleged on 1 and 2 December, a mob rounded up seven young men, severely assaulting and later torching them.
The victims were accused of being criminals terrorising the community.
Jimmy Baloyi, who represented accused 1, 2 and 5, claimed there was no evidence against his clients.
READ | Diepsloot mob killing: Top cop says ringleaders behind torching of 7 youngsters were extortionists
During his application on Monday, accused 5 claimed he received a call that he had secured employment as a driver.
"On 4 December, I was home in Diepsloot when I received a call to bring my professional driving permit.
"The caller claimed he had secured me employment and we should meet at the Diepsloot police station," he said.
"I went there and was told that I [was being] arrested for taking part in the killing of seven people. I told the police I don't know anything about those murders."
Accused 5 added he intended to plead not guilty and had evidence he was at home with his family at the time of the incident.
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Accused 2 claimed, on 4 December, the police came to his house looking for a man called Tshepo.
"They showed me pictures of a man they claimed was Tshepo. I replied that I didn't know the person in the photos. I was then taken to the police station, interrogated, and ultimately arrested.
"I don't know witnesses in this matter. I have cooperated with the State. I intend to plead not guilty," he said.
The bail application continues on Tuesday.
