Bail for arrested shackdwellers - residents toyi-toyi outside court
Around 50 residents from Marikana informal settlement in Philippi East descended on the Athlone Magistrates Court to support twelve of their neighbours who have been detained for almost a month.
After numerous postponements in recent weeks, the men were expected to have their bail application this afternoon. They were arrested on public violence although the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) did not respond to queries about the identities of the men and the exact charges against them.
NPA spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said that the state would oppose bail due to the “seriousness of the offences”.
The men were arrested on 22 August during violent clashes with police while resisting evictions at Marikana informal settlement, which began to grow rapidly early last month.
Their supporters today toyi-toyied outside court under the banner of Ses’khona Peoples Rights Movement. Wiseman Maqhula, a Ses’khona member and Marikana resident, spoke to Groundup on behalf of the group. “This has gone on long enough. We are here to take those brothers home today, because they have children that are crying for their fathers,” he said. “It has been a month. None of the charges against them have been proven. They must be let out on bail.”
The men’s lawyer, Carla Boer, said that she was hopeful that bail will be granted, in spite of the state’s opposition. “These are schedule one offence and ten of the accused are first offenders,” she said. “On that basis we believe that bail should and will be granted.”
Next: A view across the roofs of Siqalo informal settlement. Photo by Masixole Feni.
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