Kept in custody after he told the court he had fired shots at a bus driver
A man who admitted to shooting a Gautrain bus driver in Centurion was denied bail by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Jan Gijima Ndlovu was kept in custody after he told the court he had fired shots at the Gautrain bus driver on Monday morning.
Ndlovu told the court that he and other former Gautrain bus drivers had gathered in Pretoria for a daily meeting. This had been their routine ever since they went on strike.
“It was at that meeting where we heard that Gautrain buses were now operating and they were also running routes in Centurion.”
He said the group, of about 10 people, decided to go and confirm whether the rumours of new drivers and new routes were accurate.
The court heard the group left in two cars. One of the vehicles belonged to Ndlovu’s co-accused Frans Makadikoa. He drove them to Midrand.
Ndlovu said when they arrived at an Engen garage in Rooihuiskraal, the third co-accused Busisiwe Malema, said she wanted to get on the bus and on to the Gautrain and return to Pretoria.
He walked her to the bus stop where she signalled the bus to stop using her Gautrain card.
Malema was about to get on, but the driver stood up instead of opening the doors.Ndlovu panicked and shot at him twice.
Investigating officer Dion Meyer told the court the firearm used on Monday matched Ndlovu’s firearm.
It was a licensed pistol which Ndlovu said he got in 2000 to protect himself.
Magistrate Themba Ndwandwe said he believed Ndlovu had a violent nature and could therefore not be granted bail.
“Applicant number three [Ndlovu] appears to be violent and that is worrying... and there is no need to try and prove that because he confessed to the shooting and he only shot the driver because he stood up,” said Ndwandwe.
He said an interdict against all fired MegaExpress bus drivers, put into effect on February 8, was still valid.
The interdict came after 320 Gautrain bus drivers went on an illegal strike demanding better working conditions.
It prohibited any of the bus drivers from getting within 100 metres of the company’s premises or employees. It also prevented workers from intimidating or harassing any other Gautrain employees. The workers were instructed not to gather outside the company’s premises and not to prevent its clients and employees from entering or leaving the premises.
The three accused were among the 320 people fired in February.
“Its clear now that this order has been breached, whether directly or indirectly,” said Ndwandwe.
He said if Ndlovu was released on bail he would be a threat to the public’s safety.
He granted Malema and Makadikoe bail of R1000 each. Each of them faces a charge of attempted murder.
Two other people arrested on Monday night for the shooting were released. The court heard they had turned State witnesses.
The matter was postponed to March 30 for further investigation.
Self-confessed Gautrain gunman denied bail
Kept in custody after he told the court he had fired shots at a bus driver
A man who admitted to shooting a Gautrain bus driver in Centurion was denied bail by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Jan Gijima Ndlovu was kept in custody after he told the court he had fired shots at the Gautrain bus driver on Monday morning.
Ndlovu told the court that he and other former Gautrain bus drivers had gathered in Pretoria for a daily meeting. This had been their routine ever since they went on strike.
“It was at that meeting where we heard that Gautrain buses were now operating and they were also running routes in Centurion.”
He said the group, of about 10 people, decided to go and confirm whether the rumours of new drivers and new routes were accurate.
The court heard the group left in two cars. One of the vehicles belonged to Ndlovu’s co-accused Frans Makadikoa. He drove them to Midrand.
Ndlovu said when they arrived at an Engen garage in Rooihuiskraal, the third co-accused Busisiwe Malema, said she wanted to get on the bus and on to the Gautrain and return to Pretoria.
He walked her to the bus stop where she signalled the bus to stop using her Gautrain card.
Malema was about to get on, but the driver stood up instead of opening the doors.Ndlovu panicked and shot at him twice.
Investigating officer Dion Meyer told the court the firearm used on Monday matched Ndlovu’s firearm.
It was a licensed pistol which Ndlovu said he got in 2000 to protect himself.
Magistrate Themba Ndwandwe said he believed Ndlovu had a violent nature and could therefore not be granted bail.
“Applicant number three [Ndlovu] appears to be violent and that is worrying... and there is no need to try and prove that because he confessed to the shooting and he only shot the driver because he stood up,” said Ndwandwe.
He said an interdict against all fired MegaExpress bus drivers, put into effect on February 8, was still valid.
The interdict came after 320 Gautrain bus drivers went on an illegal strike demanding better working conditions.
It prohibited any of the bus drivers from getting within 100 metres of the company’s premises or employees. It also prevented workers from intimidating or harassing any other Gautrain employees. The workers were instructed not to gather outside the company’s premises and not to prevent its clients and employees from entering or leaving the premises.
The three accused were among the 320 people fired in February.
“Its clear now that this order has been breached, whether directly or indirectly,” said Ndwandwe.
He said if Ndlovu was released on bail he would be a threat to the public’s safety.
He granted Malema and Makadikoe bail of R1000 each. Each of them faces a charge of attempted murder.
Two other people arrested on Monday night for the shooting were released. The court heard they had turned State witnesses.
The matter was postponed to March 30 for further investigation.
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