Bail for attempted murder accused
Four Xolobeni dune mining supporters were arrested.
AMADIBA community members have expressed fears that violence, triggered by the Xolobeni dune mining controversy, will escalate following the release from custody of four men accused of attacking five members of the anti-mining Amadiba Crisis Committee last month.
Xolile Dimane, Thembile Ndovela, Mdlele Simthandile Bhele and Mto Mzukhona Bhele face a number of charges including attempted murder. They were granted bail of R2 000 each in the Mbizana Magistrates Court on Monday this week, the fifth day of their bail hearing.
The Amadiba Crisis Committee is made up of community members who are vehemently opposed to the Wild Coast’s Xolobeni Mineral Sands dune mining project. Three of the five victims were attacked with bush knives and knobkerries after they had attended an anti-mining meeting on December 29. The meeting was also held to offer support to head woman Cynthia Duduzile Baleni, who opposes the mining project. The crisis committee claims she is being targeted by the pro-mining faction.
The four accused, who are said to belong to the pro-mining faction, were arrested by the Mzamba police recently in connection with the assaults. They also face charges of robbing homes during a shooting in Mdatya village. This coastal village is one of five that is opposing an application for opencast mining by Transworld Energy and Minerals (TEM) a South African subsidiary of the Australian mining company, Mineral Commodities. The project area is a 22km stretch of pristine Wild Coast coastline.
The accused are due to appear in court in Bizana on February 12. Two other alleged assailants are still at large and the guns used in the shooting in Mdatya have not yet been found.
After the bail hearing Amadiba Crisis Committee member Mzamo Dlamini said people were worried about the release of the accused and were considering taking the precaution of sleeping in the forests again..
“This time, the Mzamba police did their job and made arrests,” said another Amadiba Crisis Committee spokesman Nonhle Mbuthuma. Unfortunately, now that the accused men had been released the community would have to remain on their toes, she added.
