The State then requested warrants of arrest to be issued for Yusrie Wagiet, Edward Rustin, Shaheen Haas and Lyle Jones.
State prosecutors indicated that the four were informed last week by the investigating officer and the prosecutor herself, to be at court on Thursday, but they did not heed the summons.
Judge Pius Langa then instructed the immediate arrest of the four witnesses.
Later outside court, Saadiqah’s ouma, Malika Francis claimed the witnesses were bribed.
“The were paid not to be here and these people are threatening them to not come to court,” she told Daily Voice.
Samier Slamang outside the Cape High Court
A bigger group of supporters than usual was at court on Thursday for murder accused Samier Slamang, 24 and Waylon Botha, 22, who are both out on bail.
The two face 13 charges including assault, attempted murder and Saadiqah’s murder.
On Thursday, a new witnesses took the stand.
Neighbour Gaynor Julies lives in 9th Avenue, Bokmakierie, the road Saadiqah was killed in on 2 May.
The little girl was playing in her ouma’s driveway when a bullet hit her in the stomach. She died in hospital.
Gaynor testified that she saw Slamang walking with a firearm in his right hand immediately after the shooting, because people in the road had run after him into Bokmakierie Street and then 11th Avenue, where he was joined by Botha.
Waylon Botha outside the Cape High Court
She also saw a car, a white BMW, driven by Shaheen Haas, parked in the road.
However, during cross-examination, Gaynor said she remembers also seeing a blue Mercedes-Benz, driven by a man identified as Wayne and Saadiqah’s father, Saadiq Lippert, leaving 9th Avenue.
This was not in her original statement and when Judge Langa questioned why, she had no answer.
Outside court, Malika said Gaynor was one of the people allegedly being intimidated by the accused.
“Gaynor looked nervous because she is being intimidated by them,” said Malika.
AT COURT: Mother of the slain six-year-old, Chimiez Francis
After the tea break, it was agreed the trial would be postponed to round up the four errant state witnesses.
Defence attorney Bruce Hendricks said he was very unhappy that the witnesses were not at court.
He said this was a clear sign that the State did not have a strong case against his clients.
“The witnesses are lying on the stand, the State’s case is falling apart and now even the witnesses are staying away from court. I am very unhappy,” says Hendricks.
The case resumes on Monday.