Accused of murder and kidnaping, three men from Carolina, William Wimpie Viljoen (32), Hannes Terblache (29) and Obi Nortje (32) appeared before the Carolina magistrate’s court for their bail application verdict, in which their bail was denied. The trio were arrested by the Carolina SAPS on 9 September 2020, and have been remanded in custody. It is alleged that on 14 August 2020, Viljoen, a store manager at SPAR, Terblanche the receiving manager and Nortje, local security reaction officer, kidnaped and assaulted Thabiso Sibanyoni (22) and Thulani Sibanyoni (35), accusing them of insulting one of their colleagues. Sibanyoni later succumbed to his injuries in Carolina Hospital.

When delivering his verdict, Magistrate Sekgothe Madiba said the trio faces very serious charges, which have caused community outcry. Community members have been picketing outside court since their arrest, and if granted bail, this will cause unrest in the community.