SARS Consultant Denied Bail in Execution-Style Murders of Two Black Men

The Chatsworth Magistrate's Court has denied bail to Wasim Kudoos, a 33-year-old SARS tax consultant accused of the cold-blooded execution-style murders of two Black men in what appears to be a calculated act of violence that has shaken the community.

The victims, Mzikayise Paulos Mabida, a 54-year-old gardener, and Mahmudel Sajid, a 38-year-old barber, were both shot in the head in what Magistrate S Chiliza described as "marksman-like" killings that demonstrate the dangerous nature of the accused.

Community Outrage and Demands for Justice

Family members and friends of the victims gathered outside the court in protest, demanding justice for what they see as another example of violence against working-class Black men. The community's pain was palpable as Paul Deepchand Harilal, Vishnu Gengan, Yasseen Yusuf, and Patrick van Schalwyk stood in solidarity with the victims' families.

The murders occurred on October 8, with Sajid killed at his salon on Summerfield Road in Bayview, and Mabida gunned down in the driveway of Kudoos's own home in Mobeni Heights. The calculated nature of these killings, targeting a barber trying to make an honest living and a gardener simply doing his job, speaks to a deeper violence that continues to plague our communities.

Justice System Under Scrutiny

Magistrate Chiliza's ruling highlighted the community's loss of faith in the criminal justice system should such a dangerous individual be granted bail. "The State argued that the community would lose faith in the criminal justice system if the accused is released on bail," she noted, acknowledging the public outcry that has followed these heinous crimes.

The accused's attempts to manipulate the system, including claims of mental unfitness that were later abandoned, and his inability to recall crucial details during cross-examination, paint a picture of someone desperately trying to evade responsibility for his actions.

Pattern of Violence Against Working Class

These murders represent more than isolated incidents of violence. They reflect the ongoing vulnerability of working-class Black men who, despite their honest labor and contributions to society, continue to face threats from those who see them as expendable.

Mabida, who worked as a gardener, and Sajid, who provided essential services as a barber, were pillars of their community. Their deaths leave families without breadwinners and communities without valued members.

State prosecutor Thamandri Kengan-Narainsamy confirmed that investigations are ongoing, with ballistics and residue test results already received. The thoroughness of the investigation suggests the State is building a strong case against Kudoos, who faces double life imprisonment if convicted.

As our communities continue to grapple with violence and injustice, the denial of bail in this case offers a small measure of hope that the system can still deliver justice for the most vulnerable among us. The families of Mzikayise Paulos Mabida and Mahmudel Sajid deserve nothing less than full accountability for these senseless murders.