Six men who are accused of killing Kaizer Chiefs player Luke Fleurs have pleaded not guilty.
The accused are Ndumiso Moswane, 26, Fernando Sive, 25, Nhlakanipho Dlamini, 21, Franky Xaba, 25, Maredi Mphahlele, 36, and Thembinkosi Hlomikhawu, 31.
They appeared at the high court sitting in Palm Ridge on Friday, 15 August.
They are facing charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, unlawful possession of firearms, and unlawful possession of ammunition.
The second accused, Sive from Mozambique, is also facing an illegal immigration charge.
He was asked several times if he understood the charge against him.
He told the court that he understood the charge and would plead not guilty.
Judge Cassim Moosa told the accused that they are facing serious charges which could lead to lengthy sentences in prison.
“If you are found guilty on the murder charges, life imprisonment will be imposed against all of you, and other sentences will range between 10 and 20 years in prison,” said Moosa.
The case was postponed to 1 September and the accused were remanded in custody.
Fleurs (24) was allegedly hijacked and shot dead at a petrol station in Honeydew, Johannesburg, on April 3.
According to police reports, Fleurs was parked at a petrol station in Florida, west of Johannesburg, when he was approached by armed suspects who demanded his vehicle.
He was shot and later died from his injuries.
The crime prompted widespread outrage and led to a high-level police investigation.
The accused were arrested in Slovoville on 10 April, and Fleurs’ luxury VW Golf 8 GTI was also recovered.
