Msholozi ward councillor arrested for arson, public violence

Councillor Kenneth Mkhonto is among five people that appeared at the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court after allegedly torching a children's centre.

Mr Kenneth Mkhonto.

Councillor Kenneth Mkhonto and five other suspects allegedly formed part of a group of community members who torched a centre that used to serve as an orphanage for destitute children, Mpumalanga News reports.

The Provincial Commissioner of the police in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma condemns the violence that erupts during protest action by members of the community in different parts of the province.

Provincial Commissioner General Zuma warned the community that participating in illegal protest action has dire consequences and may lead to a person serving time in prison, thereby accumulating a criminal record.

Two protesters were recently sentenced to three years imprisonment by the Barberton Regional Court for public violence which was suspended for five years, on condition that they are not found guilty of the same offence again. Even though it is a suspended sentence, it will have a negative impact on the life and future of those people because they now have a criminal record.

The five arrested individuals, Vusi Mamba, 39, Mfundo Mlimi, 28, Sipho Ngutshane, 26, Lucky Sithole, 40 and Kenneth Mkhonto, 43, were remanded in custody until 16 March pending further investigation.

The Provincial Commissioner urges people to follow the correct procedures before and during any protest action. He also believes that these sentences will serve as a deterrent to other would-be protesters.

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