The three Diepsloot community leaders out on bail after being charged with public violence, intimidation, and damage to property among others, say they are not backing down and are going ahead with their protests against violence and crime in their area.
The trio Loyiso Toyiya, Lefa Nkala and Jack Hlongwane were addressing their supporters outside Randburg Magistrate’s Court shortly after their release on R500 bail each after spending six days in custody.
The accused were arrested last week during protests over crime in the area where angry residents barricaded roads and called for President Cyril Ramaphosa to visit the area.
Their bail condition was that they should not participate in public violence but Toyiya who is the Diepsloot Community Forum Chairperson said the protests will continue.
“They will never distract us. We know there is a certain MEC who was overheard in a by-elections saying they will deal with us,” he said, adding that the protest was never violent.
“We have never intimidated anyone, we are responsible leaders, we will never lead people to destroy our infrastructure,” he added.
The Forum’s Deputy Chairperson Lefa Nkala has vowed to continue the protests until the president comes to Diepsloot and said their case was weak and that they were arrested just to intimidate them.
“Those who were in court saw this. They said the case was a Schedule 5 meaning it’s very serious but it was not true.”
However, the Gauteng National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) defended the notion that it presented a weak case against the trio.
NPA Gauteng Spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the case met the requirements to be presented in court.
“The docket has passed the test of prospects of a successful prosecution, so contained in the docket is the information that when presented, a court could come to a conclusion that the accused could be found guilty,” she said.
The case was postponed to 17 August for further investigations.
