News / Africa
South African Xenophobia case to resume
02 Jun 2011 at 21:02hrs | Views
After several snags and adjournments, the trial of former ANC Durban ward councillor Vusi Khoza and three others will resume in the Durban Regional Court later this year.
Khoza, Patricia Ballantyne, 67, Mzokuthoba Mngonyama, 39, and Sean Jacobs, 24, were charged with public violence and conspiracy to commit assault in connection with an attack on foreigners. Jacobs also faces an additional charge of attempted murder. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
All the accused were released on bail in 2009, but Jacobs remained in prison because he could not pay bail of R2 000.
However, he was released earlier this year after his bail was paid by Khoza.
In court yesterday, all the accused except Jacobs appeared. It is believed that, soon after his release on bail, Jacobs was arrested and detained on another charge.
Magistrate Fariedha Mohamed ordered that a warrant for his arrest remain pending until he was brought to court on June 9.
The accused were allegedly part of a group that assembled unlawfully and entered the Ventura Africa block of flats in Yusuf Dadoo (Broad) Street with the intention to assault, harass and instil fear in certain residents in January, 2009.
Victor Zowa, 24, of Zimbabwe, and Said Omari, 22, of Tanzania, died in the incident while Zimbabwean Eugene Madondo was seriously injured.
During the trial, Madondo described Khoza, who was an ANC ward councillor at the time, as the "war general" who had led the mob and instructed others to throw him out of the window.
Madondo survived after falling on the body of one of the men who had fallen before him and died.
The trial hit snags last year after one of the accused ran out of funds to pay his advocate and attorney, and had to secure legal aid. The case was also delayed after the prosecutor became ill and another prosecutor was assigned to handle the matter.
The trial resumes on September 12.
Khoza, Patricia Ballantyne, 67, Mzokuthoba Mngonyama, 39, and Sean Jacobs, 24, were charged with public violence and conspiracy to commit assault in connection with an attack on foreigners. Jacobs also faces an additional charge of attempted murder. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
All the accused were released on bail in 2009, but Jacobs remained in prison because he could not pay bail of R2 000.
However, he was released earlier this year after his bail was paid by Khoza.
In court yesterday, all the accused except Jacobs appeared. It is believed that, soon after his release on bail, Jacobs was arrested and detained on another charge.
Magistrate Fariedha Mohamed ordered that a warrant for his arrest remain pending until he was brought to court on June 9.
Victor Zowa, 24, of Zimbabwe, and Said Omari, 22, of Tanzania, died in the incident while Zimbabwean Eugene Madondo was seriously injured.
During the trial, Madondo described Khoza, who was an ANC ward councillor at the time, as the "war general" who had led the mob and instructed others to throw him out of the window.
Madondo survived after falling on the body of one of the men who had fallen before him and died.
The trial hit snags last year after one of the accused ran out of funds to pay his advocate and attorney, and had to secure legal aid. The case was also delayed after the prosecutor became ill and another prosecutor was assigned to handle the matter.
The trial resumes on September 12.
Source - The Mercury
