The case against six men accused of killing Kaizer Chiefs player Luke Fleurs was postponed by the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court. The suspects who are aged between 21 and 36 made their first court appearance today on charges of murder, robbery under aggravating circumstances, possession of unlicensed firearm and defeating the ends of justice.

THE HIJACKING 

Fleurs was gunned down last Wednesday at a petrol station at the corner of 14th Avenue and Hendrik Potgieter in Roodepoort while waiting to be served by a petrol attendant. According to Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo, Fleurs was driving a red VW Golf 8 GTI when he was confronted by two armed males who were driving a white BMW 1 series. Masondo said the suspects pointed Fleurs with a firearm and took him out of his vehicle, then shot him once in the upper body. Fleurs was rushed to hospital where he died. The suspect drove off in his car and they were arrested in Slovoville, Soweto on Wednesday. It is alleged that the suspects are part of a syndicate behind car hijackings in Gauteng.

STATE TO OPPOSE BAIL  

The suspects appeared in court without any legal representatives and said they would be using services of Legal Aid to apply for bail. State prosecutor Arnold Limekhanya told the court that the state will be opposing bail. Limekhanya also said that the state still need to profile the suspects and get bail statements from investigating officers. Fernando Sive (25), Nhlakanipho Dlamini (21), Frank Xaba (25), Ndumiso Moswane (26), Thembinkosi Hlomikhawu (31) and Maredi Mphahlele (36) were remanded behind bars. Their case was postponed to April 19 for bail application.

Fernando Sive, Nhlakanipho Dlamini, Frank Xaba, Ndumiso Moswane, Thembinkosi Hlomikhawu and Maredi Mphahlele will be back in court next week Friday. Photo: Kaya FM

TO BE HONOURED 

Yesterday, Kaizer Chiefs's sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jr announced during Fleur's memorial service that the slain footballer's' jersey No. 26 has been officially retired in his memory. "In his honour and to ensure that he is not forgotten, we will retire Luke's jersey number 26. We want to ensure that his legacy is with us forever. The jersey will be hung up in the changing room, and it's going to be placed first in our technical centre. We have many other things that we're going to do to honour Luke, that's just the first step,' Motaung Jr said. Fleurs joined Chiefs last year in September after his contract with SuperSport ended.