Suspects arrested during recent protest appear in court
Six suspects arrested during the Ikageng Township protest on August 19, 2024, were remanded in custody following their court appearance on 20 August 2024.
Six of the nine suspects arrested during a community protest in Ikageng on Monday, 19 August 2024, were remanded in custody following their appearance in the Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 20 August 2024. The remaining three suspects, who are juveniles, were released by the court.
The accused include Petrus Mokheledi (36), Phehello Mphasa (26), Xolani Mthule (25), Isack Wilson (21), Itumeleng Tatai (23), and Lybow Mmbwammalo (36). They will return to court on Friday, 6 September 2024, for a formal bail application. All six were apprehended at an informal settlement near Extension 11 in Ikageng while looting goods from a shop.
Following the arrests, the situation in Ikageng has remained calm, with the protest reportedly suspended. Meanwhile, the police have issued a plea to parents and community leaders to prevent children from participating in such demonstrations.
North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, expressed strong disapproval of the unrest. “We welcome the arrests and want to make it clear that lawlessness will not be tolerated,” he stated. “Criminals who disguise themselves as protesters to commit crimes will face the full force of the law.”
