Supporters of the ten arrested Nomzamo residents protest outside the Strand Magistrate’s Court today. Photo by Masixole Feni.
1 August 2014
The case against ten Nomzamo (Lwandle) informal settlement residents, who were arrested during violent clashes between police and the community in June, has been postponed.
Albert Masakala and nine others appeared in the Strand Magistrate’s Court today on charges of public violence.
Outside court, more than 30 Nomzamo residents wearing Ses’khona T-shirts, danced and chanted.
During proceedings, Masakala’s lawyer, Johan Bester, requested that his client’s bail conditions be relaxed.
At their last hearing, Magistrate Karen Scheepers granted the group R500 bail each and ordered them to sign in at Lwandle or Blackheath police station every Thursday between 8am and 8pm.
“My client has not faltered and has reported to the police station punctually every day. He may be moving soon, so we asked that it be taken away completely,” he said.
Scheepers said once the investigating officer has been notified, she would give a verdict on this at the next court appearance.
“The investigation has been completed and the matter can now go forward to trial in the Regional Court,” she said.
Scheepers then postponed the matter until 3 September to set a Regional Court date.