Ex-top cop faces multiple charges
FORMER North West provincial deputy commissioner General William Mpembe appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court over multiple charges relating to a shooting incident in Marikana, near Rustenburg, in 2012.
The former policeman, now head of security at a mining house in Marikana, told the court he intended pleading not guilty to the charges.
He is accused of the murder of Semi Jokanisi, Tembelakhe Mati, Warrant Officer Hendrik Tsietsi Monene and Warrant Officer Sello Ronnie Lepaauku.
The State alleges he killed the four on August 13, 2012 in Marikana.
The State further alleges that on August 13, 2012 he attempted to kill Lieutenant Shitumo Solomon Baloyi, Zolile Honxo, Zwelitsha Mtshwenwa, Muziwanele Mxinwa, Mzoxolo Zukulu and Sibongiseni Leornard Miya.
Mpembe, 55, faces other charges of defeating the ends of justice, contravention of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) Act as well as contravention of the Commission Act.
Mpembe was the commander of the police when the police intercepted a group of striking Lonmin mineworkers who had gone to the K4 shaft to root out workers who were not on strike. On their way back to the koppie in Nkaneng, they met the police.
According to the State, Mpembe ordered them to drop their weapons but they refused, and he ordered the police to escort them to the koppie. But along the way he allegedly instructed the police to fire tear gas and stun grenades into the group.
A confrontation ensued and Monene and Lepaaku were killed, along with two striking mineworkers, Thembelakhe Mati and Semi Jokanisi.
Baloyi was stabbed several times by striking mineworkers, while Zolile Honxo, Zwelitsha Mtshwenwa, Muziwanele Mxinwa, Mzoxolo Zukulu and Sibongiseni Leornard Miya were injured.
Retired Colonel Salmon Johannes Vermaak, 53, together with Constable Nkosana Mguye, 38, Warrant Officer Masilo Mogale, 49, Warrant Officer Katlego Joseph Sekgweleya, 39, and Khazamola Phillip Makhubela, 49, are accused of the murder of Pumzile Sokhanyile.
Vermaark further faces charges of defeating the ends of justice and contravention of the Commission Act.
They all told the court they intend to plead not guilty to the charges and were released on bail. Mpembe and Vermaak were granted R5 000 bail each, while Mguye, Mogale, Sekgweleya and Makhubela were released on R2 000 bail each. The State did not oppose bail.
They were arrested yesterday after they handed themselves over to Ipid at the Rustenburg police station.
The case was postponed to June 18 for pre-trial at the North West High Court in Mogwase.
In Mpembe’s case of contravention of the Commission Act, contravention of the Ipid Act and defeating the ends of justice, he is charged along with Gideon van Zyl, Dingaan Madoda and Oupa Pule.
They allegedly failed to disclose that mineworker Modisaotsile van Wyk Sagalala died in custody while transported to the Lonmin premises on August 16, 2012.
Their case was postponed to June 18 for pre-trial at the North West High Court in Mogwase.
The Ipid said a decision in respect of the deaths which occurred on August 16, 2012 was still outstanding.