The investigating officer in the Reiger Park shooting that claimed the lives of two police officers and two women told the Boksburg Magistrates’ Court that the first accused had allegedly warned community members that “Reiger Park would burn” if anything happened to him.
The investigating officer argued on Tuesday in an affidavit that the alleged statement demonstrated Reagan Cheslin Collis’ influence and power in the community.
However, accused Collis, 23, through his lawyer, attorney Samkele Kuzani, denied the allegation.
Collis appeared in court alongside accused number two Jamal Meyer, 24, and accused number, Elvino Levert Crafford, 27, for formal bail applications.
The three men face charges arising from the shooting on August 7 at about 7p.m. in Reiger Park.
It claimed the lives of Anti-Gang Unit officers Constables Thapelo Tlomatsana, 29, and Sphiwe Sibeko, 28, as well as civilians Roleen Lessing and Jaydin Margerman.
Police have said the officers were conducting crime-prevention patrols in the area when they heard gunshots.
They drove towards the source of the gunfire and were allegedly ambushed.
According to the investigating officer’s affidavit, two women had stopped in a street near a local supermarket.
“One of the ladies exited the vehicle, her red (Volkswagen) Polo. They were driving in and entered the shop. Shortly after, the lady returned to the vehicle while being seated in the passenger seat,” the affidavit states.
The investigating officer said a suspect approached from the front and fired several shots at the red Volkswagen Polo.
“A patrolling police vehicle then responded to the shooting incident and this is when the two police officers also got shot. All four died in their respective vehicles,” the affidavit states.
The officers’ service rifles were also taken, the court heard.
The investigating officer said CCTV footage showed Collis and Meyer at the scene and implicated them in the killings. The state intends to present the footage as evidence during the trial.
A case involving four counts of murder was opened.
The rifles were subsequently recovered, the investigating officer said.
“The video material above corroborates a pointing-out/confession by accused number one, wherein he confesses to the killings,” the affidavit states.
According to the investigating officer, the alleged confession also led police to the recovery of the service rifles taken from the two officers.
“The admissibility thereof will be determined by the trial court,” the investigating officer said.
Disputed CCTV footage
The investigating officer told the court that the state was aware of video footage circulating on social media that allegedly showed Collis at home when the shootings took place.
“I want to state categorically that such video footage lacks authenticity and does not reflect what truly transpired at the scene,” the affidavit states.
The officer said police had received information about the identity of the person allegedly responsible for circulating the footage in an attempt to undermine the state’s case.
“I also received information that the accused himself was involved in such propaganda by posting misleading material to divert attention from the real issues,” the court heard.
The court was also told that Collis had allegedly been found recently in possession of a cellphone while in a correctional facility.
“We are in possession of such cellphone information,” the investigating officer said.
The state is opposing bail, arguing that Collis poses a danger to the public and could interfere with the administration of justice.
Although his address had been verified and he lived with his mother, the investigating officer said it had initially been difficult to trace.
Collis does not have a passport, but the state argued that he had the means to evade trial by leaving the province because he has family elsewhere.
“He has access to vehicles to use, and his power with the gang has proved that he could be hidden by the people close to him,” the affidavit states.
The state further argued that the seriousness of the charges, which could result in life imprisonment, could motivate Collis to flee.
The investigating officer said Collis had also made statements on social media about shootings and had invited his enemies to “come and try shooting at them”.
The officer further alleged that Collis could use associates and family members to interfere with the investigation.
“Gangsterism works with instructions and orders given to low-ranking members to execute such,” the investigating officer said.
“The accused himself informed members that Reiger Park will burn if something should happen to him, proving his influence and power.”
The state said its investigation had not been completed, with outstanding suspects and witness statements still being pursued.
The investigating officer also alleged that Collis had previously been released on bail and continued committing offences.
“This criminal history started in 2021 and has not stopped,” the affidavit states.
The state also expressed concern that Collis’ alleged gang affiliation could trigger retaliatory violence.
“It is further alleged that his gang may retaliate through revenge attacks,” the investigating officer said.
The accused’s family had allegedly claimed that police were working with a rival gang and were framing Collis.
The investigating officer described Reiger Park as a community facing serious gang-related violence.
The state argued that refusing bail would help restore order and demonstrate that law and order remained essential to community safety.
The state said it was opposing bail because it believed it had a strong case against all three accused.
“Mr Collis is alleged to be a well-known gang member in Reiger Park who is feared by the community. He is unemployed, lives with family and his means of financial support are unknown,” the investigating officer said.
The state said Collis’ criminal history included arrests relating to violence and firearms.
The state said the firearms used in the killings had not all been accounted for and could therefore remain a threat to the public.
It further argued that additional cases were being reported as community members came forward with information about gang-related violence.
The investigating officer said refusing bail could prevent renewed violence and retaliatory killings.
The state alleges that Collis is a member and leader of the “Vartos-Latos” gang, which is in conflict with a gang known as the “Sour Boys.”
The state said this was consistent with allegations by Collis’ family that police were working with the Sour Boys.
The investigating officer also argued that refusing bail could protect Collis himself from possible retaliation.
“The community is outraged and is begging for the accused’s blood and may take the law into their own hands,” the officer said.
Collis denies allegations
Collis earlier, told the court that he was at home with friends when the shooting occurred.
They were eating and sitting outside, but within the property, he said.
He said he had an alibi and that CCTV footage from the property would support his version.
“I have a defence of alibi and this makes the state case very weak against me,” Collis said.
He said he intended to present three video recordings showing that he was at home at the time of the incident.
Collis described himself in one of the recordings as wearing a white hat, maroon jersey and brown shoes.
He said he went outside after the shooting in an attempt to help the occupants of a Volkswagen Polo Vivo.
“The motor vehicle in which the two women were driving was rolling. I had to assist them. In all honesty, I had not shot them. In all honesty, if I had shot them, I would not see the need to help them,” he said.
Collis said more than four witnesses could support his version.
He denied possessing a firearm or any other dangerous weapon and said no firearm used in the killings had been found in his possession.
“It would be very stupid of me to kill the police officers right in front of where I stay, knowing very well that there are cameras,” he said.
“They put plastic over my head, said I must confess to the crime. This happened for more than three hours,” he alleged.
He said he was lying on his stomach while tightly handcuffed and that police officers recorded the incident.
“I was sure I was dying from this torture,” he said.
Collis alleged that he eventually told police he had killed the two police officers and two women and implicated Meyer.
He later retracted the confession, saying it had been made because of the alleged torture.
“This is definitely not true,” he said.
Collis said Meyer was at home when the shooting occurred and only arrived at the scene afterwards.
He also claimed that he had assisted police in locating firearms after the shooting.
“I thought I would be a witness in this case, but later the police charged me,” he said.
Kuzani asked the court to allow CCTV footage to be played to demonstrate that Collis was at home when the shooting occurred and that Meyer and Crafford were not present.
The state has indicated that it has received the footage.
IOL previously reported that a source familiar with the investigation who had viewed CCTV footage claimed that the recordings raised questions about whether Collis was the person who fired the shots.
According to the source, Collis was inside his grandmother’s house when the shooting occurred.
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.
The source further claimed that Collis was later seen confronting the alleged gunman and saying, “I saw you.”
The source also alleged that Collis and his associates had a longstanding rivalry with the Sour Boys and had received threats from the group several hours before the shooting.
It is alleged that the attack may have been intended to target Collis and his associates.
Kuzani also read the affidavits of Meyer and Crafford, who both denied involvement in the killings.
Meyer said he was at home when the shooting occurred and only went to the scene afterwards.
Crafford similarly said he was at home at the time of the shooting.
The two men face the same charges as Collis under the doctrine of common purpose, with the state alleging that all three participated in the crimes.
Meyer and Crafford
The investigating officer said Meyer had also been accused of possessing drugs after police stopped and searched him during a crime-prevention operation and allegedly found him in possession of suspected crystal methamphetamine.
The officer said Meyer was aware that police were looking for him after the incident but decided to flee.
“Yes, there is a likelihood that the accused before court will interfere with witnesses in this case. The accused is also part of the Vartos-Latos gang and they rule by intimidation and fear,” the investigating officer said.
The court also heard that Crafford had gone on the run after the incident.
The investigating officer said Crafford knew police were looking for him but also decided to flee.
The state similarly argued that Crafford could interfere with witnesses.
The officer described Crafford as a gang member who had easy access to firearms and could commit further serious offences.
“There are firearms used in the commission of the crimes that have not yet been traced. The accused’s profile also does not indicate that he possesses a licensed firearm,” the officer said.
All three accused told the court they could afford bail of only R2,000 each.
The magistrate postponed the bail applications to September 8, when the CCTV footage is expected to be played and the bail hearing will continue.
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