Abramjee and Pinto granted R10,000 bail in blue‑light case

Two men accused of fitting blue lights to a vehicle were released on bail under strict conditions after appearing in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court.

Who appeared and what they face

Afzal Abramjee, 40, and Manuel Sarafim Pinto, 49, faced a charge of operating a motor vehicle fitted with or displaying lamps emitting blue light in contravention of the law. They appeared in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on 6 July 2026.

How the matter came to light

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said police stopped a vehicle during a roadblock operation at Wierdabrug on 4 June 2026. Officers discovered the vehicle had been fitted with blue lights. When questioned, the driver said the vehicle belonged to her husband.

The NPA spokesperson, Tshegofatso Makhudu, said police contacted Abramjee and requested that he come to the scene. “Upon his arrival, both he and his wife were taken to the Wierdabrug Police Station for further questioning. The vehicle was seized, and the pair were later released pending further investigations,” Makhudu said.

Arrests and court outcome

Following the police investigation, Abramjee and Pinto were arrested at their respective residences on 3 and 4 July 2026, the NPA said. The State did not oppose bail, saying neither accused was considered a flight risk, though it asked the court to impose stringent conditions to protect the integrity of the investigation.

The court released both men on bail of R10,000 each, subject to conditions set by the court.

Bail conditions

• Report once a week to their nearest police stations between 17:00 and 20:00.
• Surrender their passports to the investigating officer within 24 hours.
• Refrain from directly or indirectly contacting any witnesses involved in the matter.

Next steps

The case was postponed to 5 August 2026 for further investigation, the NPA said.