Residents denied entry to attend trial

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 3 2016 A GROUP of Masiphumelele residents were denied entry into the Simon’s Town Magistrate’s Court when a police tape cordoned off the entrance yesterday.

The singing group came to show support for residents, who appeared in court, after they were arrested last year when violent protests erupted over a lack of policing.

During the protests, men were killed in alleged vigilante attacks and a police van set alight.

The accused faced charges which ranged from attempted murder, public violence, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to murder, after several attacks on alleged criminals by vigilantes.

There were two representatives for the accused, although the accused knew nothing about a new lawyer representing them.

When the accused could not confirm their new representative, magistrate Crystal McKenna delayed the matter for a few minutes. After the break, their previous lawyer, advocate Lennox Ntsimango, asked for a postponement, saying the issue of representation still needed to be discussed.

McKenna postponed the trial for the accused to sort out their legal representation and their bail was extended.

One of the accused, Lubabalo Velem, said their sponsors took the decision to hire a new lawyer without consulting them.

“They said our lawyer is expensive before talking to him, and after they spoke to him he agreed to meet us half way. We can’t afford to have these postponements because most of us have to stay away from work, we want this matter finalised,” he said.

The case has been postponed to February 19.