The leaders of the Diepsloot anti-crime protest, Lefa Nkala, Loyiso Toyiya, and Jack Hlongwane, were pleased to return home on Wednesday after spending six days in jail.
They were released on R500 bail each by the Randburg Magistrate’s Court.
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The charges they face include public violence, intimidation, and malicious damage to property, all related to the violent protests against crime in the area.
Toyiya denies any involvement in public violence and asserts that their intention is to continue demanding the intervention of the president and his ministers in addressing the crime issues in their community.
He claims that their arrests were politically motivated, but that won’t deter them from seeking an audience with the president. They still desire engagement with the ministers and want to contribute to finding a solution for the entire country based on what comes out of Diepsloot.
Last year, government officials from the police, immigration, and customs authorities were deployed to the township in response to similar protests that rocked the community.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane, stated that based on the evidence available, the state chose not to oppose bail.
She explained that the police’s concerns, such as difficulties in verifying addresses, could be addressed by the court through specific conditions to monitor the accused.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that one of the accused, Nkala, had a previous assault conviction in 2020.
The court imposed only one condition on the trio, which prohibits them from participating in acts of public violence.
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Mjonondwane clarified that this restriction does not prevent them from attending community meetings as long as there is no involvement in public violence.
The next court hearing is scheduled for 17 August.