Court told accused warned ‘Reiger Park will burn’ before fatal police ambush

The Boksburg Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday that the first accused in the Reiger Park case allegedly warned community members that “Reiger Park would burn” if anything happened to him, the investigating officer said in an affidavit.

Who is before the court and what they face

Three men accused number one Reagan Cheslin Collis, 23; accused number two Jamal Meyer, 24; and accused number three Elvino Levert Crafford, 27 appeared for formal bail applications in connection with a shooting in Reiger Park on 7 August at about 7pm that left four people dead.

The deceased were Anti-Gang Unit Constables Thapelo Tlomatsana, 29, and Sphiwe Sibeko, 28, and civilians Roleen Lessing and Jaydin Margerman. The three accused face four counts of murder arising from the incident.

State’s case and allegations in the affidavit

According to the investigating officer’s affidavit read in court, police were conducting crime-prevention patrols when they heard gunshots and drove towards the source, where they were allegedly ambushed. The affidavit says the officers’ service rifles were taken and that all four victims died in their respective vehicles.

The affidavit states that CCTV footage shows Collis and Meyer at the scene and that the state intends to present the footage as evidence during the trial. The investigating officer added that the video material, the affidavit says, “corroborates a pointing-out/confession by accused number one, wherein he confesses to the killings.”

The state told the court it recovered some of the service rifles after following information allegedly given in the confession, and said the admissibility of that confession “will be determined by the trial court.”

Warning, alleged influence and risk of interference

The investigating officer argued the alleged warning that “Reiger Park will burn if something should happen to him” demonstrated Collis’ influence in the community and supported the state’s opposition to bail. The state said it believed Collis posed a danger to the public, could interfere with the administration of justice and might evade trial.

The affidavit also alleges that Collis had made social media statements about shootings, had invited his enemies to “come and try shooting at them”, and that his alleged gang links could prompt retaliatory violence. The state described Reiger Park as a community facing serious gang-related violence and said refusing bail could help restore order.

Defence position and disputed footage

Collis, through his lawyer Samkele Kuzani, denies the allegations. In court Collis said he was at home with friends when the shootings occurred and that CCTV footage from his property would support an alibi. He told the court he intended to present three video recordings showing he was at home and denied possessing a firearm.

Collis also alleged that police tortured him into confessing, saying officers put plastic over his head and that he was handcuffed and lying on his stomach. He said he later retracted the confession because it was made under duress.

The investigating officer said the state was aware of video footage circulating on social media that allegedly showed Collis at home when the shootings took place, but the affidavit disputes that footage’s authenticity and alleges the footage was circulated to undermine the state’s case.

IOL reporting on CCTV footage

According to IOL, a source familiar with the investigation who had viewed CCTV footage claimed the recordings raised questions about whether Collis was the person who fired the shots. IOL has seen the footage, and the footage allegedly shows another man wearing a dark hoodie and red tracksuit trousers shooting the two women before fleeing in a silver-grey Volkswagen Polo. According to IOL, the footage also allegedly shows Collis confronting the alleged gunman and saying,

“I saw you.”

Other accused and outstanding investigative matters

The investigating officer said Meyer was allegedly found in possession of suspected crystal methamphetamine during a police stop and that Meyer had fled after learning police were looking for him. The affidavit states Crafford also fled after the incident.

The state said not all firearms used in the killings have been accounted for and that outstanding suspects and witness statements are still being pursued. The affidavit also alleges Collis has a criminal history dating back to 2021 and that he was previously released on bail and continued committing offences.

Next steps

All three accused told the court they could afford bail of only R2,000 each. The magistrate postponed the bail applications to 8 September, when the CCTV footage is expected to be played and the bail hearing will continue.