BETHAL – A 22-year-old man, Mr Ayanda Kubheka, was remanded in custody after he appeared in the Bethal Magistrate’s Court today, 26 August, on charges of intimidation, crimen injuria and incitement to commit crime.
Mr Kubheka was arrested on 22 August after he allegedly circulated malicious allegations on Facebook indicating that a police officer stationed at eMzinoni had shot dead a 14-year-old child during the violent protest which broke out in eMzinoni last week.
Brig Leonard Hlathi, provincial spokesman for the police, said this false accusation went viral on social media, thus placing the officer’s life in danger.
The police registered a case and Mr Kubheka was arrested.
“The police take these allegations seriously and make a clarion call to the public to refrain from intentionally tainting other people through social media by making false accusations. This is deemed an aggressive act,” Brig Hlathi said in a press statement.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieut-Gen Mondli Zuma, condemned acts of unnecessary protests, including the community’s attempt to set the eMzinoni police station alight.
Lieut-Gen Zuma said the community should refrain from destroying such infrastructure which plays an integral part of servicing the community.
“Not only important infrastructure, but any other property belonging to individuals or businesses should not be damaged as such actions are criminal.”
During the protest, 35 suspects, aged between the ages of 18 and 41 were arrested and released on R1 500 bail each and the cases were postponed to 5 September.
The suspects whom the community was forcing the police to release by trying to set the police station on fire, are Messrs Sakhile Sikhonde (18), Siyabonga Mamba (18), Moses Mokoena (21), Siyabonga Madonsela (22), Thabo Magagula (22) and Sibusiso Mtsweni (29).
They appeared in the Bethal Magistrate’s Court on charges of malicious damage to property, house breaking, theft and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).
Five of the suspects were granted R1 500 bail each and the remaining suspect, Mr Mtsweni, was remanded in custody for further investigation.
He will again appear again on 10 September.
Lieut-Gen Zuma said: “The police are aware of the right that people have to protest, but that should be done within the ambit of the law. Any act of criminality shall be dealt with accordingly without any fear, favour or prejudice.”
