Former Wits SRC leader Mcebo Dlamini arrested

Former University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) Student Representative Council president and #FeesMustFall leader Mcebo Dlamini is allegedly on hunger strike in prison, an activist said on Friday.

This was according to Nkululeko Tselane, one of #FeesMustFall activists and Wits student who visited him on Friday morning together with three others.

The 30-year-old Dlamini was denied bail at the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Wednesday and remanded in custody until his next appearance on 15 November. Dlamini faces charges of public violence, theft, malicious damage to property and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm following his arrest at his Wits residence in the early hours on Sunday.

Department of Correctional Services spokesperson, Manelisi Wolela, dismissed the allegation. “Our regional and management area leadership of the Department has dismissed these allegations as incorrect,” he said.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-cou...ent-leader-allegedly-on-hunger-strike-2082552
 
Good. Save the taxpayers some money for a change.
 
ToxicBunny said:
He will welcome it when talking in public..

I'm pretty sure he is quietly soiling his pants though.... since such a little precious flower might be violated whilst in custody.
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A high profile leader like him won't be touched. He will be admired and protected instead.
 
why is some one from swaziland making all this noise in south africa, about south africa, and why did he get a bursary above south africans?
 
Release the guy back in Swaziland with a ban to never set foot in SA again ever, after he has paid for all the damage done under his direction.
 
Mpofu: Mcebo Dlamini’s case is politically motivated

JOHANNESBURG - The judge presiding in Wits University student leader Mcebo Dlamini’s bail appeal case says he will announce his ruling tomorrow, and final judgement in the case against Dlamini within two weeks.

Dlamini is facing charges including theft and assault in connection with #FeesMustFall protests.

His counsel Dali Mpofu has argued that the case is politically motivated and that Dlamini is not a flight risk.

He says that given the nature of the charges, it is obvious Dlamini should be granted bail.
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More at: http://ewn.co.za/2016/11/08/mcebo-dlamini-bail-application
 
schumi said:
...His counsel Dali Mpofu has argued that the case is politically motivated and that Dlamini is not a flight risk.

He says that given the nature of the charges, it is obvious Dlamini should be granted bail.
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Ummm Dali .... :rolleyes:

Is granting of bail a reflection of the outcome of the case?

No, the granting of bail must not be seen to be a reflection of the strength of the State’s case against the accused. Also, bail granted does not imply the acquittal of the accused nor the withdrawal of the case. Even when bail is granted, the accused will still face the charges in a court of law when a trial date is set. Once granted bail it just means that the court is of the view that the accused will stand his/ her trial and is not a flight risk or a danger to the community.
- See more at: http://www.justice.gov.za/faq/faq-bail.html#sthash.OGYhejK7.dpuf
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Dlamini's bail valid because State failed to share video footage with defence - judge

Johannesburg - The State's failure to share video footage of Fees Must Fall activist Mcebo Dlamini with his legal team was crucial in the decision to grant him bail. The footage allegedly showed him throwing rocks at police.

The failure was among the reasons why the State's appeal against Dlamini's bail was overturned by the court.

Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng gave reasons why Dlamini was granted bail in the High Court in Johannesburg on Friday morning.

"The appellant [Dlamini] and his legal representatives have never had an opportunity to view video footage," said Mokgoatlheng.

He said this put Dlamini at a disadvantage, because he wasn't given a chance to confirm or dispute whether it was him in the video.

"Failure to disclose the video footage to the appellant infringes on his right to a fair hearing... There is absolutely no evidential basis whatsoever that the applicant has a propensity to public violence or damage to property," he said.

Political motivation 'speculation'

The former Wits SRC leader was arrested at his residence on October 16 and was charged with violating a court order, public violence, assault, theft and damage to property. He was later released on R2 000 bail.

The judge found that the magistrate's court had been incorrect in denying Dlamini bail, leading to him spending two months in custody.

But Mokgoatlheng said the lower court had been correct in finding that Dlamini had been dishonest when he claimed that he had an exam to write on November 18. However, he said this was not the only factor to consider in granting Dlamini bail.

Mokgoatlheng shied away from comments on whether or not the charges against Dlamini were politically motivated.

"At this moment everyone is speculating," he said. A ruling on whether or not the charges were in fact an attempt to silence Dlamini would be made during the trial, which was set to start on June 15.

Dlamini's attorney Thabo Kwinana said he was pleased with the judgment.

Precedent

"We think that the judgment by the judge is correct and it reinforces our belief in the rule of law and justice. It merely concentrated on whether the evidence that was used by the magistrate's court did justify a decision to deny the bail."

"The judge has correctly found that such decision was patently wrong and that's why he overturned it."

He added that Dlamini's legal team had already made representations to the NPA to apply for the withdrawal of the charges against him.

Dlamini said he hoped the judgment would set a precedent for the handling of other cases where Fees Must Fall leaders had been jailed.

"There was no basis that the government had to keep us behind bars. I hope that the decision that the court pronounced today will have an effect on other cases where Fees Must Fall leaders are still held in prison... because the charges are the same and the motives are the same," he said.

News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...are-video-footage-with-defence-judge-20170113
 
Johannesburg - The State's failure to share video footage of Fees Must Fall activist Mcebo Dlamini with his legal team was crucial in the decision to grant him bail. The footage allegedly showed him throwing rocks at police.
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What is the state hiding?
 
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