There was jubilation in the Vuwani Magistrate’s Court during the appearance of two teenage boys who are accused of killing a well-known taxi driver a fortnight ago. They were refused bail and ordered to be sent to a place of safety in Polokwane.

Hundreds of family members, taxi owners and their drivers gathered early at the court premises to submit a memorandum against the granting of bail to the accused. The transport system had almost come to a halt after all taxi drivers parked their taxis at a nearby parking area and chanted slogans in solidarity with their slain comrade. They later handed a memorandum outlining their grievances to the acting head magistrate of Vuwani, Mr Takalani Tshishonga, who promised to take it "to a higher office."

Well-known driver Nditsheni Azwidohwi (32) of Muledane outside Thohoyandou was recently killed during a robbery. Nditsheni, a married father of two, met his tragic end when three teenaged men boarded his taxi and robbed him before shooting him dead in the Mutsha area.

Family member Khathu Ramulondi said they agree with the ruling and that it would have been a disgrace to the justice system if they had been granted bail. "We have witnessed this happening on many occasions that suspects commit a crime today and tomorrow they are again roaming the streets," he said.

The chairperson of the Vuwani Taxi Association, Mr Mavhungu Madzhie, said they were relieved that the court had ruled favourably by not releasing the boys. "The release of the boys would have been a miscarriage of justice in our view and would have ignited the anger of our members," he added. "We commend the work done by police for the speedy arrest of these perpetrators," he said.

The case was postponed to July 31.