LEAP officer murder accused charged with kidnapping after two women found in boot

IN A shocking twist, police found two women in the boot of a hijacked City of Cape Town law enforcement vehicle.

This was revealed as three men accused of the murder of Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officer Yonke Pakade made their first appearance in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Thandolwethu Toto, 21, Asemahle Pama, 20 and Asavela Ndamase, 20, made a brief appearance in front of a packed court, including the Pakade family, law enforcement, traffic and metro police officers.

The suspects face charges of murder common purpose, robbery with aggravating circumstances, theft, as well as two counts of kidnapping.

The court heard that the faces of the accused cannot be shown as a fourth suspect is outstanding and it could jeopardise the case.

Pakade, 26, was hijacked, sustained multiple stab wounds to the chest and was also stoned on October 12. His body was discovered at approximately 3.45am in the morning.

State prosecutor Nurhan Toefy said: “On October 12, the deceased and his girlfriend were together and his girlfriend went to sleep in the car. She woke up and found the three accused assaulting and stabbing the deceased.

“She managed to run away, spotted a random vehicle to assist her and was taken to the nearest police station. 

“Police then followed up, they first went to the address where the incident had occurred and upon arrival they found the deceased dead. They then proceeded to search for the vehicle in the area.

“The vehicle was spotted, police approached, at that point the three accused were searching the vehicle stealing items out of the vehicle. 

“Upon the approach of the police, all three accused ran, (Toto) was arrested on the scene, (Pama) and (Ndamase) were arrested later on the (same day) in Kraaifontein. 

“Upon searching the vehicle and opening the boot, police then found two females in the boot of the vehicle. 

“Indication is that all accused admit to the offences as they all made confessions and also admitted to the theft.”

The court heard that some of the accused face other cases. Toto and Ndamase have opted to use the services of legal aid while Pama asked to appoint his own lawyer.

The Pakade family were joined by safety and security boss JP Smith who appealed to the court to deny the accused bail.

Smith said: “We have done everything possible to ensure that we could trace and arrest along with SAPS with our safety and security investigation management team. 

“Those people who we believe are responsible for the attack and that is why they are appearing. To the Pakade family we feel your loss, nobody should have to experience this. 

“I can only imagine the same men have hurt many other people and hopefully with their arrests we can save the lives of many other people.”

The case was postponed to October 21.