MBOMBELA – A Mpumalanga ward councillor, a member of Mbombela’s mayoral committee and six Mataffin community members appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on charges of arson and public violence last Wednesday.
During the first weekend of June 2015, police opened cases of malicious damage to property and violence after three houses and a tuck shop were allegedly set on fire by community members in Mataffin.
According to residents, torching the properties was an expression of community members’ anger at the sale of property that was subject to a land claim in favour of the Mdluli Trust.
On June 30, Lowvelder reported that the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) paid a visit to the area. It was confirmed that the properties that were set on fire belonged to friends of a certain Nkosi, who allegedly sold the properties in question. Mr Collen Sedibe said that the EFF had sided with the so-called illegal occupants and said that they would ensure that those responsible for the fires would face the law.
On Wednesday morning, Messrs Kenneth Mkhonto, Jerry Siboza, Frazer Nyoni, Bongani Mabunda, Wonder Phuri, Nomcebo Mashelo, Dumisani Makhubela and Ms Constance Maseko appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court. State prosecutor, Mr Oupa Ndlovu confirmed that the state was not opposed to bail and the eight were released on R1 000 bail each.
The case against them was postponed to October 2 for further investigation. Ndlovu placed on record that the police still needed to arrest another suspect. Complainant, Mr Thomas Mahlalela said that he could not really express how awful it felt when his whole house was razed to the ground. “I’ve lost everything. I’ve lost my home and all of my things.” He just shook his head and said that he was disappointed that Mkhonto – a ward councillor – and a member of the mayoral committee had allegedly been involved in destroying his livelihood.
Sedibe said that the party was satisfied that the arrests had been made, but that the bail amount was considered disproportionately small when the gravity of the alleged crimes are taken into consideration. “We are, however, glad that these people have been brought to book and we hope that justice will be served,” he said.
Also read:
House goes up in flames in Mataffin
EFF gets involved in Mataffin land conflict
