‘PAPPA WAG VIR ONS’ - Murder-accused AGU cops tell court they fear going to tronk

ELEVEN Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) accused of murdering an alleged gangster claim that the State is “feeding them to the wolves” after they received threats from bandiete in Pollsmoor.

The cops, who may not be identified as per court ruling, returned to the Athlone Magistrate's Court yesterday, which saw the courtroom vol van supporters for the cops and the deceased.

They stand accused of kidnapping, torturing and killing alleged Clever Kidz (CK) gangster Wade Price from Manenberg on 4 December following an interrogation of a shooting incident outside the same court the previous day. The State said that they are adding a fifth charge of attempting to defeat the administration of justice.

The investigating officer in the matter said in his affidavit that the accused knew that Price and his friends were affiliated with the CKs gang and decided to take them into a rival gang area where they allegedly “showed off” the deceased and his friends being captured or in their “custody” in the “Hard Livings” territory. 

The four were then taken to Manenberg SAPS where CCTV footage showed them entering the building with the accused, which is consistent with what the friends of Price said in their statements.

Three were later released from the station, however Price was taken to a property in Vygekraal Road where the accused allegedly unlawfully and intentionally killed him by hitting him multiple times with unknown objects on his head and body, torturing the deceased and smothering/choking him to death.

All accused said that they deny the allegations against them. They said in their bail applications that they were geskok to hear that the State is opposing their release on bail after The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) said they could be released on bail of R1 000.

They further said that should they remain in custody they would be vulnerable due to arrests they of made of bandiete who are also in custody.

One of the accused said in the holding cells that he and the other accused were recognised by bandiete who said: “Jy ons gaan jou nou in jou p*** maak, ons wag vir jou by Pollsmoor.”

Another accused said that he was scheduled to get married on 21 December, however given that the case is underway he is going to be behind bars or at the altar.

They further dropped bombs against the State saying they are feeding the accused to the wolves and are being guarded like they are the “most wanted people” yet they rid the streets of crime and work hand in hand with the State.

The court previously heard that according to witnesses Price entered the property alive with the members, but moments later emergency services and other police officials arrived and that was when his body was removed from the property.

However, one of the accused said in their application that they were the ones to call emergency services before Price died.

The accused said that should they be released on bail that they will not flee before trial and would not interfere with witnesses, however the State said they would argue that they know the witnesses as they interviewed them the day Price died.

The case was postponed to 19 December for arguments.