Sisters Zainab Jacobs and Gouwah Smith Newman were gunned down by their brother.
Image: Supplied.
The Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court has denied bail to Nazmie Lekay, the second accused in the murder case involving two sisters who were shot outside a school in Portlands, Mitchells Plain, on 6 November 2025, Weekend Argus has reported.
The court ruled that releasing the 33-year-old on bail would not serve the interests of justice, finding that Lekay had failed to provide compelling or exceptional circumstances to justify his release.
Lekay, who is married with three minor children and is the sole breadwinner for his family, argued that his continued detention would have severe consequences for his household. However, the magistrate ruled that personal circumstances could not outweigh the gravity of the charges against him.
The charges relate to the fatal shooting of sisters Zainap Smith Jacobs and Gouwah Smith Newman, who were gunned down while waiting for children to be dismissed from school. An adult bystander and a pupil were also injured in the crossfire.
The two sisters were gunned down on Wespoort Drive.
Image: Leon Knipe
During the bail hearing, the State presented testimony from a witness who allegedly saw the shooter, Ederies Smith — the brother of the deceased — enter Lekay’s vehicle shortly after the shooting. Another witness reportedly saw Lekay drop Smith off at his residence and attempt to dispose of a firearm.
The State argued that Lekay posed a risk of interfering with or destroying evidence if released.
In his testimony, Lekay claimed he had no involvement in the shooting and that his presence near the scene was coincidental. He told the court that he had made a U-turn near the Hazeldene traffic lights after hearing gunshots and, while navigating through traffic, saw Smith running towards his car with a child, claiming he was “being shot at”.
However, the magistrate rejected this version of events, stating that Lekay’s conduct was inconsistent with coincidence. He questioned how Smith could have identified Lekay’s vehicle — which had tinted windows — if, as claimed, he had not previously known it. The magistrate also noted that Lekay did not question why Smith was allegedly under fire, which raised further concern.
The court concluded that there was a prima facie case suggesting that Lekay acted as an accomplice, though it acknowledged that the evidence would be tested in due course at trial.
“The court has considered the best interests of the minor children, as well as the family’s financial reliance on the accused,” the magistrate said. “However, in the interests of justice, it is better suited that he remain incarcerated. Bail is denied.”
The matter has been postponed to 17 December, to allow co-accused Ederies Smith — alleged to have pulled the trigger — to return to court with legal representation. Smith informed the court he intended to be represented by criminal defence attorney Raymond Davies, though Davies was not present during the proceedings.
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