Charges against ANC councillor dropped
ANC ward councillor Joel Sindane has been cleared by the Magistrate’s Court.
Mabopane councillor Joel Sindane is a free man after charges against him of conspiracy to commit murder were withdrawn after a key witness failed to turn up again.
Sindane, who appeared in the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate’s Court on Friday, seemed unsurprised when the prosecutor told the magistrate the charges had been withdrawn, without giving any explanation.
Sindane was accused of plotting to kill a number of his party members in what was believed to be a battle for positions.
He was arrested on 15 March, and spent three days in custody before he was released on R3 000 bail.
The police had received a tip-off about the alleged hit list.
Sindane had denied any link to the charges.
“I am not surprised that the case has been withdrawn. I have always maintained that I am innocent. People have hidden agendas,” said Sindane.
Sindane claimed he was disliked by an alleged triabalist group masquerading as members of the ANC who were also trying to frame him.
“They tried to make up this case back in 2012, but their lies failed to stick. Why bring it all up now? These people are angry and bitter, and have a personal vendetta against me,” said Sindane.
“They have not hidden their hatred of me. They hate me because they want my position.”
Sindane said the group disliked him because he was a Ndebele in a predominantly Tswana area, and he had opened a case of assault against the members of the group.
“They came to my office where they beat me up. I know their names. The police have their names,” he said.
The ANC had refused to act against Sindane, saying it would only do so if he was found guilty by a court of law.
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