Alleged instigator Mchunu evaded police with private jet
ALLEGED instigator and former Ukhozi FM DJ Ngizwe Mchunu avoided the police with a private jet and was a flight risk, the State told the court during his bail application yesterday.
There was a high police presence outside the Randburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday as supporters gathered for the bail application of former Ukhozi FM DJ Ngizwe Mchunu.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) opposed the bail application.
The State said the alleged unrest instigator was a “flight risk” and that the interests of justice did not permit the NPA to release Mchunu on bail.
According to State prosecutor Yusuf Baba, the accused is facing two charges – one for contravening regulations implemented in terms of the Disaster Management Act to fight the spread of Covid-19, and for allegedly inciting violence. Baba also highlighted that Mchunu avoided the police five times before he handed himself over at the Durban police headquarters about a week ago.
“The accused is a flight risk and does not live at the address in Phoenix, Durban, which he provided to the court. The accused is also in possession of a valid South African ID and passport, as well as a valid American passport, making it easy for him to travel abroad and not attend his trial date,” the prosecutor said.
As part of the evidence of the State to oppose the bail application, four videos were played during the court session. In one, Mchunu is seen addressing the “state of the nation” at the KwaMai-Mai market in Johannesburg; later the location changed, and the address was delivered from a hotel in Bryanston.
In his address, he expresses his frustration about the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma and ends the video with the word “Ayikhale”, which the State is interpreting as the alleged call to the violence that erupted.
After his address, violence erupted in Jeppestown, Denver, Cleveland and then Soweto.
In the second video, a worried Mchunu is seen arriving at the airport in Lanseria, trying to escape, after he heard that the police were searching for him. He then allegedly left the airport in a private jet to KwaZulu-Natal.
“Police are looking for me. If I am arrested, I will not eat prison food. I will die in prison because of the cold and hunger. At least I know more than R3 million will be spent on my funeral, money I don’t even have,” Mchunu said in the video.
In the final video, Mchunu is interviewed on a radio show, where he claims the looters were sent by the government, and Police Minister Bheki Cele called him to warn him about inciting violence.
A spokesperson for the Mchunu family, Bonginkosi Khanyile, said they had hoped the proceedings would have concluded and them to return home with Mchunu, but they remained hopeful. The bail hearing is expected to continue today, when the defence will present evidence in support of his release.