Jumpers residents welcome bail withdrawal as mass shooting probe continues

Residents of the Jumpers informal settlement have welcomed the decision by three Lesotho nationals accused of one of Johannesburg’s deadliest recent mass shootings to abandon their bail application, saying it offers some relief even as fears over safety persist.

The accused, Molebeli Mosia, Ramonne Tsibela and Zipho Metsing, briefly appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday, where their formal bail application was expected to begin. Instead, they abandoned the application following consultations with their legal representative.

Defence lawyer, Phumudzo Sadiki, said he was acting on his clients’ instructions, despite previously expressing confidence that they would seek bail.

The three men face multiple charges linked to the mass shooting at the Jumpers informal settlement in Cleveland, where 13 people were killed and 14 others injured after gunmen allegedly opened fire on residents earlier this month.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says survivors first gave statements while receiving treatment in hospital before providing further statements after being discharged. Investigators later took them to the Maimai informal settlement in Johannesburg’s CBD, where they allegedly identified the accused.

The court also heard that the State’s investigation is still ongoing, with outstanding witness statements, post-mortem reports and forensic evidence still to be finalised before the matter proceeds.

Despite abandoning their bail application, the defence maintains the accused were wrongly arrested and alleges they were assaulted and forced to make incriminating statements while in police custody, claims the State disputes.

Outside court, residents of the Jumpers informal settlement welcomed the decision, saying they feared the accused could pose a threat to the community if released while the case is still under investigation.

The matter has been postponed to 21 August for further investigations.

JUST IN: Three Lesotho nationals accused in the deadly Jumpers informal settlement mass shooting have abandoned their bail application.

The trio faces 13 counts of murder and 14 of attempted murder.

The case has been postponed to 21 August for further investigations.#YNews pic.twitter.com/xJQTIPJ5tn

— Ndashe (@ndasheii) July 17, 2026

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe