Notorious Khayelitsha murder-accused, Yanga “Bara” Nyalara, who has been arrested numerous times, has been set free, yet again.

Nyalara had charges of robbery withdrawn against him in the Cape Town Regional Court on Monday, reportedly as the witnesses in the case are too scared to testify.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said:

“I can confirm that charges against the accused were withdrawn after two witnesses refused to testify for fear for their lives.”

The latest case relates to a 2016 robbery at an MTN store in Cape Town, where he was allegedly part of a gang that held up customers and the store’s employees.

He has been accused of leading a Cape Town extortion syndicate, and has faced numerous serious charges, including 18 counts of murder, six counts of attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms, and others tied to violent gang activities.

However, despite these accusations, Nyalara has not been convicted on these charges.

Nyalara was accused of orchestrating some of Khayelitsha’s deadliest mass shootings, including the May 2021 Site B massacre, where 12 people were killed.

The shootings were allegedly in retaliation for gang-related killings earlier that day. He also faced charges linked to a May 2022 shooting in Site C that left six dead, as well as extortion and firearms violations.

Before his arrest on these charges in July 2022, police had offered a R100 000 reward for information that would lead to his arrest.

However, legal proceedings against Nyalara have been repeatedly hampered by inconsistent evidence and witness challenges.

In the Site B case, the sole surviving witness, identified as “Mr. Z,” provided contradictory testimony that undermined the prosecution’s case.

His credibility was questioned when his statements to police did not align with his testimony in court. Defence attorneys successfully argued that the charges should be dismissed under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act due to a lack of direct evidence.

Prosecution efforts were further complicated by the deaths of other key witnesses, reportedly killed in targeted attacks, and an atmosphere of fear that left remaining witnesses vulnerable. Procedural issues and investigative errors also drew criticism from the court.

Khayelitsha residents have expressed mixed feelings about Nyalara, who some see as a community protector. Some residents credit him with improving safety by keeping other criminals at bay.

They claim that he helps the disadvantaged, supports orphans, and even funds burials for families in need.