We can ’ t give up justice to thug rule

It is disgraceful that our country is descending deep into lawlessness to the extent that magistrates are intimidated to release people accused of crimes.

Acting chief magistrate Manesa Zondo was reduced to tears in the Delmas magistrate’s court on Wednesday as he disclosed that he had received death threats from people who were demanding that he grant ANC official Robert Khaya Segone bail.

“After the fourth of November, the [accused’s] last appearance [in court], I was approached by different individuals to make a decision that would free the accused. When that failed, they threatened the court and threatened that they knew where the judiciary lived,” Zondo said.

Segone, the Victor Khanye local municipality speaker, was in court for 17 charges – eight of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, robbery with aggravating circumstances, intimidation, crimen injuria and theft. He is believed to be a leader of a local gang known as the “yellow overalls” that has been terrorising the Delmas community.

Zondo released Segone on R50,000 bail, and said: “I must say that in as much as I got the threats I still believe that my decision should be in the interest of justice. And although I found no compelling reasons and exceptional circumstances to admit the applicant into bail, bail is granted.”

What has become of our society when presiding officers are bullied to make decisions in favour of suspects? This is shameful.

Police must arrests the people who threatened Zondo as we cannot be held to ransom by criminals.

Law and order must be restored in this area. If the police in the area cannot act, out of fear for their lives, more officers from other towns must be deployed to handle the situation. If this matter is not dealt with the urgency it deserves, it will collapse that court, that community and our country would become a lawless society run by criminals.

We call on the NPA to appeal against the decision to grant bail to Segone so that it can be revoked. It was granted out of fear; the magistrate was not even convinced he would “not interfere with justice”.

The Delmas gang needs to be taught a lesson that would send a message to others never to attempt this in other parts of the country.