Yanga "Bara" Nyarala, a 32-year-old former teacher from Khayelitsha and a figure known for inspiring both fear and admiration in his community, has been released from custody.
His release follows the unexpected refusal of four key witnesses to testify in a robbery case against him, a development that has left many questioning the state of justice in the area.
Initially acquitted of the murders of 12 people in August 2024, Nyarala remained incarcerated due to outstanding charges related to a 2016 robbery at St George’s Mall in Cape Town's central business district (CBD). The robbery allegedly involved the theft of a cellphone (valued at R2 300), R1 000 in cash, and an MTN jacket. He also faced charges of possessing an unlicensed firearm.
The robbery trial, initially set for 11 November, was postponed due to the absence of crucial witnesses. The prosecutor informed the court that only one of the five suspects was present, requesting an adjournment. Other reasons cited included illness and a family emergency (a mother suffering a stroke).
This prompted a heated exchange in court. The state requested a postponement, a move opposed by Nyarala's lawyer, Rueben Liddell, who argued that the continued delays were unjust while his client remained imprisoned. "I’m not dictating, but it wouldn't be appropriate to postpone. The matter should be struck off the roll,” Liddell argued. Magistrate Byron Pedro, however, refused to dismiss the case, instead postponing it to 26 and 27 November.
The subsequent developments, however, would dramatically alter the course of the case. According to Eric Ntabazalila, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesman in the Western Cape, the witnesses ultimately refused to testify, citing fear for their lives. This led to the withdrawal of the charges against Nyarala and his subsequent release.
Nyarala’s notoriety extends beyond this robbery case. He and co-accused Wanda “Mampintsha” Tofile were previously charged with the murders of 12 people in an extortion-related mass killing in May 2021. He also faced charges linked to a shooting in Site C that claimed six lives. Despite these serious accusations, the pair were acquitted after the judge deemed the evidence from the sole remaining witness inconsistent and unsatisfactory.
The testimony of the only remaining witness, referred to as Mr Z, was deemed unreliable by Acting Judge Mandy van Leeve, who presided over the murder trial. Adding to the mystery, two of the three initial witnesses in the murder case died under unclear circumstances.
The Site C community's reaction to Nyarala's arrest in July 2022 was noteworthy. Residents took to the streets, not to demand his incarceration, but rather his release. They viewed him as a crime fighter, claiming his presence significantly reduced crime in the area.
A community leader, expressing their satisfaction with Nyarala’s release, stated: “We don’t care about how he achieves it, but we know that when he was around Site C, there were less robberies murders. We could walk on the streets with our phones without fear of being robbed. His ways of dealing with crime are more effective than those of the cops.”
Others highlighted his establishment of car washes, which they believed kept young men occupied and away from criminal activities.
Nyarala's arrest in Bothasig, while in bed with two women aged 21 and 28, attracted significant attention, with former Police Minister Bheki Cele attending his initial court appearance. His release, however, raises questions about witness intimidation, the effectiveness of the justice system, and the complex relationship between the community and law enforcement in Khayelitsha.
