Following the spate of public violent protests that erupted two weeks back in and around eMalahleni, a total of 62 people have been arrested.
A vandalised foreigner owned shop which was later looted. Some suspects have been arrested and have appeared in court. (Photo by Sydney Tonga)
Thirty two of the arrested appeared at the Witbank Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, August 30.
They are facing charges that include inter-alia, public violence, burglary to business premises, possession of stolen property, incitement to commit a crime and malicious damage to property.
Some people have broken into a foreigner owned shop and stolen some items during a protest action. (Photo by Sydney Tonga)
A total of 53 suspects, were granted a R1 500 bail each, six were released on R500 bail each with three denied bail after they supplied false names and addresses to the authorities, at their previous court appearances.
Barricade in Botha Street in Ackerville during a protest which lasted for some days from Friday, August 18.
The bail conditions granted include that some report at the Vosman Police Station on Mondays and Fridays between 06:00 and 18:00. They must also not be found protesting illegally or disrupting an ongoing process of distributing houses at Siyanqoba and must not even be seen around that area.
Police investigation is still continuing on this matter and the other 30 remaining suspects will appear at the same court on Friday, September 22.
Firewood, stones and burning tyres were used to block a road during a protest action in KwaGuqa.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma issued a stern warning to anyone with ill intentions at the court tomorrow and appealed for restraint from all.
“As the SAPS we are tasked with maintaining public order at all time, hence we will not hesitate to act within the prescripts of the law to ensure that we live up to that expectation”, said the General Zuma.
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