The Democratic Alliance has written a letter to the Mpumalanga Police Commissioner, Lieut-Gen Semakaleng Manamela, asking for the arrest of Victor Khanye former Local Municipality (VKLM) speaker.
According to the DA Caucus leader of VKLM, Diane Bath, the DA called on the police commissioner to stop dragging feet and arrest the former speaker, Khaya Segone.
In a media statement released by the DA on Thursday, April 14, this letter follows a clear directive from the Supreme Court Appeal during January 2021, on which Lieut-Gen Manamela has not yet acted.
Segone was arrested on October 26, 2020.
The arrest came after a series of events where Segone allegedly intimidated a senior police officer at the Delmas Police Station and threatened to burn down the station.
During this incident, another police officer was seriously injured and taken to hospital.
Segone was remanded in custody and appeared in the Delmas Magistrate’s Court on October 28, 2020 to apply for bail. (Streeknuus, October 29 2020).
Cases against him at this time included intimidation, crimen injuria and incitement to commit a crime as well as charges under Act 26 of 1959, the Explosives Act.
The case was postponed and once again, Segone remained behind bars.
The case was postponed until November 4, 2020.
On that day, 17 charges against Segone were represented before court, including eight of assault with the intent to cause bodily harm (Schedule one), robbery with aggravating circumstances, intimidation, crimen injuria and theft.
Segone again appeared in court on November 18, before acting chief magistrate Manesa Zondo.
Zondo shocked the court by withdrawing from Segone’s case on the said date.
“After the 4th of November, the accused’s last appearance in court, I was approached by different individuals to make a decision to free the accused,” said Zondo.
He said that he was followed around and that he was threatened by people.
“They even said that they know where I am staying,” Zondo told the court at the time.
Zondo also said that he reported the matter to the Department of Justice.
He then followed with an emotional outburst on how the threats reminded him of one of his colleague from Bronkhorstspruit who was brutally killed after receiving death threats.
Victor Mabunda was assassinated outside his house in January 2018.
“He was killed gruesomely because he did not comply,” Zondo then said.
“I must say that in as much as I got the threats I still believe that my decision should be in the interest of justice.”
Zondo also told the court at the time that even though he found no compelling reasons and exceptional circumstances to admit the applicant into bail, bail was granted at R50 000 and Segone was released
after spending three weeks in prison. (Streeknuus, November 27, 2020).
Soon after his release, Segone returned to his office at VKLM.
However, on April 14, 2021, VKLM released a statement that Segone has been removed from his role as the speaker of VKLM with immediate effect.
This followed a special council meeting to consider a vote of no confidence against Segone, and through a majority vote with immediate effect, the speaker was recalled. (Streeknuus, April 2021).
The Supreme Court overturned Segone’s bail in January 2021 and ordered that he be arrested while awaiting trial.
To date no arrest has been made and Segone found his way back into VKLM as a representative for the African Voice Progressive Party (AVPP).
“We maintain that there should be no bias when it comes to public representatives charged with criminal offences.
“The police should act and arrest him as recommended by the Supreme Court. The police should act with no fear or favour when arresting high-profile politicians charged with criminal offences,” said Bath.
“The law must now be allowed to take its course.”
