The State has opposed bail for three men accused in the Reiger Park mass shooting, raising concerns about alleged gang links, witness intimidation and further violence.
Regan Collis, 23, Jamal Meyer, 24, and Elvino Crafford, 27, face charges linked to the 7 August shooting that killed two Gauteng Anti-Gang Unit officers and two civilian women.
Prosecutor Matthews Rampyapedi told the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court that the State believes the accused pose a risk to witnesses and the community.
State raises Collis criminal history
Rampyapedi, reading an affidavit from investigating officer Captain Sizwe Sibeko, said Collis has pending cases and an alleged criminal history dating back to 2021.
The State listed previous matters involving robbery, firearms, attempted murder and murder.
In one double murder case, witnesses were placed in witness protection after allegedly receiving death threats.
According to the investigating officer, witnesses previously claimed Collis threatened to shoot them and wait for them outside court.
Collis has denied the allegations.
Gang links and intimidation alleged
The State alleges Collis is a member and leader of the Vatos-Latos gang, which is reportedly in conflict with the Sour Boys gang.
The investigating officer claimed Collis had significant influence in Reiger Park and could use other gang members to intimidate witnesses.
The State also alleged that Collis previously told community members that Reiger Park would “burn” if anything happened to him.
Collis has denied involvement in the August shooting and maintains that he was at home when the killings occurred.
State opposes bail for all three
Prosecutors also opposed bail for Meyer and Crafford.
The State alleged both men fled after becoming aware that police were looking for them and claimed they were associated with the Vatos-Latos gang.
Crafford has no previous criminal cases against his name, according to the State, but is accused of helping conceal firearms allegedly taken from the murdered officers.
The State claims CCTV footage places Collis and Meyer at the scene, while the defence says video evidence supports the accused’s alibis.
The bail matter was postponed to 8 September, when CCTV footage is expected to be viewed and proceedings will continue.