Three of the four men accused of killing North West businessman Wandile Bozwana will stay in jail until next March when their trial resumes.

This comes after the state on Friday requested Judge Papi Mosopa to postpone the trial to next year. The trial began at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria last Monday.

Now the postponement means the accused - Sipho Patrick Hudla, 34, Matamela Robert Mutapa, 40 and Bonginkosi Paul Khumalo, 36 - will remain in jail till then. The trio are taxi owners.

Third accused Vusi Reginald Mathibela, 30, who is out on R50000 bail, left the dock in high spirits. Mathibela, a Pretoria-based businessman, was granted bail in January.

Khumalo shed tears when Mosopa told them the trial would continue next year.

Prosecutor Jennifer Cronje requested the postponement in order to call all state witnesses. The court would need more time for cross-examination of these witnesses, she said.

KZN taxi boss linked to Bozwana's killing

Cronje asked Mosopa to remind Mathibela of his bail conditions. "He's not allowed to threaten state witnesses."

Mosopa warned Mathibela his bail would be rescinded if he breached any of its conditions.

Last week Cronje called several state witnesses.

Bozwana, 43, was gunned down in a car in October 2015.

He was travelling with a female companion when their car was ambushed at a traffic light on the Garsfontein offramp of the N1 highway.