SEBOKENG. – Three of four convicts were denied leave to apply for bail in the Sebokeng Magistrates Court this week.
They were denied bail for the second time for fear they would abscond, according to Magistrate Nelson Nkwetla. Visibly disappointed family members and the communities of the Vaal region, churches, United Front (U.F) and other non-profit organisations, have joined hands in support of the three Boiketlong accused, who were sentenced to 16 years.
The organisations and U.F showed solidarity by taking a stand to bring relief and hope to the families of the accused. This comes after three accused were sentenced for arson, malicious damage to property and assault. The accused are Sipho Sydney Mangane (45), Danny Sekudu Molefi (53) and Amatsie Dinah Mokhetha (28). They were arrested and found guilty after the community of Boiketlong went on the rampage, barricading roads and vandalising the robots on Moshoeshoe Road on March 28 of 2013.
Accused No 3 – the fourth suspect – Pulane Mahlangu (22), disappeared while out on bail and the court has issued a warrant for his arrest. The sentence was passed by the presiding magistrate on April 27. They were granted leave to apply to the Appeal Board of South Africa within 21 days. Their appeal case was heard for the first time on June 23. The case was transferred from Mosese Mosese of the Legal Aid Board to Raymond Eastes, a new attorney, to deal with the matter. Bricks Mokolo, an activist and community paralegal from the Orange Farms Human Rights Advice Centre, says they slammed the sentences as based on ‘politically motivated influence.’ The U.F suspects that an impartial judge would never have issued such heavy sentences based on allegations with no substance.
The court heard that the community first attacked and burned the shack of Ward Councillor Maselloane Nthebe while together with her family, slept inside at 02:30 am. They further hauled two vehicles belonging to the councillor out of their shack-garage and set them alight. The Councillor estimated the damages at R969 000. All this was apparently motivated by poor service delivery at Boiketlong informal settlement. During the marathon trial, a doctor’s report stated that Molefi was not physically fit to stand trial.
The magistrate pointed out that the illness of an accused did not guarantee a chance to avoid being sentenced. In terms of the constitution, every person has the right to apply for a paid specialist or a state doctor.
