A 46-year-old man accused of gunning down four people and injuring three others as African National Congress (ANC) supporters returned from a memorial service in Katlehong North appeared in the Palmridge Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Fani Sibeko faces four counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder following the deadly shooting on Tuesday, 13 October, which claimed the lives of four young people aged between 21 and 27.

He is also charged with discharging a firearm in a public place and failing to safeguard a firearm.

The State requested a seven-day postponement to allow for further investigations into Sibeko’s bail application. The matter was postponed to 22 October, with the accused remaining in custody.

The shooting occurred as a group of ANC supporters was returning from a memorial service for the late councillor Jeanese Magugu at Mogobeng Primary School.

According to the allegations outlined by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the group was walking and chanting when gunshots were heard from behind them.

A man driving a motor vehicle allegedly approached the group and initially fired shots into the air before turning his firearm towards the crowd and firing multiple shots.

Four people were killed, while three others sustained injuries.

The deceased have been identified as Nqobile Faneli, 23, Njabulo Ngcongo, 23, Zanga Bingwa, 21, and Yonwaba Tunce, 27.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting, including what allegedly prompted the gunfire, remain subject to police investigation.

Sibeko allegedly handed himself over to the police following the incident and has remained in custody.

The case docket has been assigned to the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), which will investigate the circumstances of the shooting.

The involvement of the specialised unit places the investigation within the broader work of the task team, which investigates politically related killings in Gauteng.

However, the available information does not establish whether the shooting was politically motivated or whether the victims were specifically targeted because of their ANC affiliation.

The allegations will have to be tested through the criminal justice process.

The incident has also raised concerns about the safety of people attending political gatherings and memorial services, particularly when groups travel together through public areas.

The four victims were young adults whose deaths have left their families and communities confronting the aftermath of the violence.

The three people who survived the shooting were also caught up in the incident, with the investigation expected to establish the full circumstances surrounding their injuries.

The NPA said it remained committed to ensuring that serious violent crimes were prosecuted effectively and that those alleged to be responsible were held accountable through the criminal justice system.

The postponement will allow investigators additional time to conduct further bail-related investigations before the matter returns to court next week.