BARBERTON – There were scenes of jubilation outside the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday when Magistrate Ricardo Cloete dismissed the case of City of Mbombela Local Municipality ward-45 councillor, Cllr Mandla Mamba.
Mamba appeared before the court facing a charge of violation of his bail condition following his arrest last Wednesday.
After spending a weekend behind bars, Mamba, was finally released on Tuesday by Cloete. Cloete found out that Mamba has not violated his bail condition and dismissed the case.
Mamba was re-arrested last Wednesday afternoon after it was alleged that he was spotted among the community members who brought Fairview Mine to a standstill last week Monday. The residents demanded that the management prioritse local residents first when there were job opportunities at the mines.
Soon after his arrest on Wednesday afternoon, the residents of Ward 45 barricaded roads entering the area by setting tyres alight. They also scattered trails of rubbish in the area by tipping over rubbish bins and emptying plastic bags.
No private cars, taxis or buses were allowed to enter or exit the area.
More chaos erupted outside the court on Thursday when Mamba appeared in court after Magistrate Lucky Mhlanga denied him bail.
Mhlanga had refused to release Mamba on the grounds that the magistrate who granted Mamba a R10 000 bail for his initial charges of malicious damage to property and theft of a firearm a month ago, Cloete, would have to determine whether he violated his bail conditions or not.
His supporters sang struggle songs and insulted the Barberton SAPS station commander, Col Sunbright Ndlovu, outside the court. The protesters allegedly accused Ndlovu of being involved in propaganda with the intention of tarnishing the image of their leader.
Mpumalanga News has since learnt that Mamba, through his defense attorney, Maxhosa Labe are intending to file a lawsuit against the minister of police for wrongful arrest.
Meanwhile, Mamba and his four accused, Mr Sihle Nkambule (24), Mr Sabelo Mlotshwa (20), Mr Themba Mwali (33) and Mr Gift Mnisi (25), will appear before the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on December 2 on their initial charges of malicious damage to property and theft of firearm, they allegedly committed in September.
Both Mamba and Mnisi are currently out on a bail of R10 000 while all Nkambule, Mlothswa and Mwali are out on a R500 bail each.
