Five EFF members briefly appeared in the Richards Bay Magistrate’s Court today on charges of public violence, malicious damage to property, and assault.

Zululand Observer reports accused Mongezi Twala, Sabela Khubisa, Simphiwe Ndlela, Simo Gumede, and Vusimuzi Cele, who handed themselves over to the police yesterday morning, face charges of causing damage to City of uMhlathuze property exceeding R300 000.

They will remain in custody.

The prosecution, defence, and magistrate agreed to carry the matter over to tomorrow for a bail application, with a magistrate from another district to oversee proceedings, as one of the accused is an officer of the law and known to the magistrate.