EL death threat accused to ask for bail

A MDANTSANE man accused of making both death treats and allegations of hits on a senior government official and a politician will apply for bail on Thursday.

Sithembele April, 40, was yesterday remanded in custody by the East London Magistrate’s Court after he had made his first court appearance yesterday.

He was arrested on Friday on allegations that he had called various unnamed politicians and threatened them with death, and also that he had “warned” a senior government official and a Buffalo City Metro councillor that there were hits taken out on them.

The Dispatch understands that April was arrested just hours after he had called Eastern Cape Development Corporation’s (ECDC) chief executive officer Ndzondelelo Dlulane last Thursday, warning him of an alleged assassination plot against him – a plot he claimed was masterminded by an axed ECDC board member.

He was arrested by the Hawks in the early hours of the next day, Friday, after Dlulane reported the phone conversation to his legal team, which in turn informed the Hawks.

The Friday arrest was confirmed yesterday by Hawks national spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, who said such threats and allegations had been taking place for about 12 months.

“The stalking and the death threats have been happening for almost a year and they were reported recently to the Hawks Eastern Cape’s serious organised crime task team‚” Mulaudzi said.

He said the suspect was facing charges of intimidation by making death threats.

He would also face “charges of making allegations regarding a hit on a senior government official and a politician”.

Yesterday April first appeared briefly before Magistrate Rochele Sam, who then referred his case to the bail court for a formal bail application.

Bail court magistrate Robin Taylor postponed the bail application to Thursday before ordering that he be held in custody at the East London Prison in West Bank. —