Community members opposed to bail given for panga gang
Afterwards, while they were being led to the police vehicle, they waved to community members who had gathered to oppose their bail. The members also threatened residents, saying they would regret opposing their bail as they would be released soon.
The so-called panga gang showed no remorse when they appeared in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court last Friday. The five members – Cyprian Manda, Skhumbuzo Chauke, Lawrence Mavimbela, Prince Fakude and Surprise Mnisi – appeared to be relaxed before the proceedings started. Afterwards, while they were being led to the police vehicle, they waved to community members who had gathered to oppose their bail. The members also threatened residents, saying they would regret opposing their bail as they would be released soon. All pleaded guilty on charges of being in possession of dangerous weapons following their arrest on December 21.
Magistrate Thulile Mthethwa had remanded them in custody pending their court appearance yesterday, January 13.
The community expected the sentence to be pronounced after the gang members pleaded guilty.
The state called Manda’s mother to testify. In her mitigating plea, Doreen Nomvula Zulu, the accused’s mother, said he had had two children by different mothers and was struggling to support them. According to Zulu, Manda was not employed full-time and relied on part-time jobs. She pleaded for her son not to be sent to prison. She added that Manda had also been the victim of a panga attack, and this might have been why he was found in possession of the weapon. Mthethwa responded by saying that this did not warrant his doing the same to other people.
The court also learnt that Manda had two previous convictions. He had been charged with assault with intent to cause bodily harm in 2012 and theft, for which he was given a fine of R4 000, suspended for five years on condition that he was not be found guilty of similar offences. One of his co-accused, Mavimbela, also had two previous convictions. In July 2009 he was convicted of assault with intent to cause bodily harm and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and was given a suspended sentence for five years. He was also deemed unfit to carry a firearm. In September 2012, he was convicted of housebreaking with intent to steal, and assault, and was sentenced to three months with the option of a R3 000 fine. He opted for the fine and was suspended for five years.
Chauke, Fakude and Mnisi are first-time offenders.
At the time of going to print the verdict was unknown.
