The two men accused of the murder of an 82-year-old couple from Ottery appeared in the Western Cape High Court on Friday for their pre-trial hearings.
The family’s gardener, Gcinile Litha Gcobelakhe, 29, and his friend, Lwazi Tsibatsiba, 22, face four charges each - two of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and attempted theft.
Rugaya and Riedewaan Addinall, who were found dead in their home on 6 January 2019 after family members could not reach them via telephone, were force fed rat poison and strangled to death.
At the High Court on Friday, the matter was postponed to next year to have the case trial-ready and because Gcobelakhe once again did not have a lawyer.
He was given the postponement to assign someone to his case.
Gcobelakhe, who had worked for the family for a few years, and his alleged accomplice Tsibatsiba were captured on security footage loading up the couple’s vehicle with their TV, microwave oven and kettle.
When shocked neighbours got word of the incident, members of the Hifz school (where pupils learn to recite and memorise the Quran) across the road had a look at their cameras and were shocked to see the gardener allegedly loading the stolen goods into the car.
PRE-TRIAL: The duo's case was postponed
The man leaves and comes back with another man.
The car then fails to start and the two suspects leave the premises on foot.
They were arrested later that week in Delft, allegedly still in possession of the car keys.
During their first appearance at the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court, Gcobelakhe raised his hand and told the magistrate that he wanted to confess to the crime.
The two will be back in court for pre-trial proceedings on 7 February 2020.