ALL 19 accused members of the KwaMaphumulo Taxi Association and Blackwatch armed guards arrested at their KwaDukuza residence in January, were granted bail in the Durban Regional Court on Monday.
For 17 of the accused, bail was set in the amount of R7 500 and two other must pay R10 000 due to outstanding matters.
Their arrest followed a raid by the Hawks on 29 January in a joint operation with KwaDukuza SAPS and the Durban Harbour Tactical Response Team, at a residence shared by the members of the taxi association and the guards hired to protect them.
The men were subsequently charged with attempted murder, obstructing police officers and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
But, defence attorney Yolanda Gielink said licences for the seven Blackwatch semi-automatic rifles were delivered to the Hawks by Blackwatch.
It is denied that the two unlicensed firearms were found in the residence occupied by the members and guards.
The defence says the guards mistakenly believed they were under attack by a rival association and fired in self-defence, following three previous ambushes and the traumatic loss of a fellow guard.
They stopped firing when they realised the fleet of unmarked vehicles were in fact SAPS and Hawks.
The case was remanded until 16 April for results of ballistic testing.
