Masiphumelele residents stay away from work during court case
About 300 residents marched to Simon’s Town Magistrates’ Court today in support of 43 community members arrested last year for public violence
As agreed at a community meeting on Monday night, people in Masiphumelele did not go to work today, but children were allowed to attend school. Taxis were not allowed to operate until the court case involving community members charged with public violence was over for the day. This was enforced by about 100 people who gathered at the entrance to the township today.
There has been a large Metro Police presence since Monday afternoon.
Struggle songs were sung outside court. The accused were told by the magistrate that their cases had been transferred to Wynberg, the regional court. This caused anger as people said they had taken days off work only to be told their cases were now to be heard at a different court.
One of the accused, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “I am losing so much money because I have to keep appearing in court for something I didn’t do. I was standing next to my house when I was arrested … I thought today it would end because they don’t have any evidence of me doing anything wrong. I know that for a fact.”
The arrests followed the mob justice killing in September 2015 of a man who residents accused of murder and rape, and the various protests that followed.
A community leader, Lubabalo Vellem, is accused of murder, attempted murder, assault and malicious damage to property.
Some of the accused will appear on 1 July. Others will appear on 4 July. Vellem and two co-accused will appear on 5 July.
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