A policeman attached to the Tshilwavhusiku police station, Const Azwindini Colbert Makuya (29), and Melton Netshivhangani (30) appeared in the Tshilwavhusiku Magistrate's Court on Tuesday for a formal bail application.

Makuya was arrested on 28 September, on suspicion that he had stolen two heavy-duty chainsaws and a truck battery from a local timber dealer in Madombidzha. According to Limpopo police's spokesperson, Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi, the police had since confiscated all the stolen goods, which amounted to the total value of R12 000.

The court could not proceed with the bail application on Tuesday, because Netshivhangani had yet to seek a legal representative. Makuya's lawyer, Mr Thanyani Mashau, requested the court to proceed with the bail application in the absence of Netshivhangani 's legal representative. The court informed him that the matter would rather be postponed to allow Netshivhangani to seek the legal representative of his choice, who would then represent him in his bail application.

Mashau did not seem satisfied with the court's response, so he requested the court to tell him what would happen if Netshivhangani failed to come with his lawyer on Friday. “So far, we cannot speak about what would happen at the next appearance,” said the court.

The case was postponed to 11 October (today).