The family and friends of a woman, who was gunned down at a 21st birthday party at the weekend, picketed outside the Mitchells Plain court as the three suspects made their first appearance.
Mother of three Annie Hodson, 31, died on Sunday after gunmen opened fire at party-goers in Montclair Drive, Mandalay, the previous night.
Seven others between the ages of five and 26 were wounded.
Annie’s sister-in-law Tasneem Hodson, 37, tells the Daily Voice: “It was just before 9pm, we were standing outside the house, which was rented for the party, when I noticed a car driving very slow.
“A passenger came out of the right side and I saw he had a gun.
“I shouted ‘Gun! Run, he’s going to shoot!’”
The traumatised woman says she didn’t notice her 14-year-old daughter walking to the shop.
“I heard her beg the accused not to shoot but he shot her anyway.
“She was hit in the right side and she is still in hospital.
“I didn’t know that seven other people were shot.”
Tasneem says she rushed her daughter to the hospital.
“I later heard that my sister-in-law had been shot.
“This has left our family devastated, she left an eight-month baby, a seven and 10-year-old behind.
“Her husband is heartbroken, they were supposed to celebrate their first wedding anniversary soon,” she says.
The police made an arrest on Monday and on Wednesday morning Moegamat Hartenzenberg, Jonathan Witbooi and Marawaan Sofaar appeared at Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court.
Police spokesperson Andrè Traut explains: “In pursuit of the suspects, Anti-Gang Unit detectives conducted a tracing operation and arrested the suspects aged 22, 35 and 38 who are all from Mitchells Plain. They were charged with murder and attempted murder.”
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila says the case has been postponed.
“They are charged with a count of murder, seven counts of attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms and illegal possession of ammunition.
“The charges follow a shooting incident that took place at a house in Montclair over the weekend.
“Their case has been postponed until 10 November for bail application.”
Mense held up placards which said the trio must rot in jail and chanted: “Justice for Annie!”
Tasneem adds: “We want them to stay in jail, they must never come out after what happened.”