Chika case: ANC protest outside court
2013-03-04 14:40
Klerksdorp - About 200 ANC members sang and danced outside
the Klerksdorp Magistrate's Court on Monday in opposition to bail for eight men
accused of killing North West ANC official Obuti Chika.
Fifteen police vehicles, including several nyalas formed a
U-shape around the entrance to the court.
African National Congress members outside the police line
held up posters of Chika and placards denouncing the eight, especially local
government MEC China Dodovu.
"Hands off to our comrades hands on to the killers of
Chika. Justice must prevail," one of the placards read.
Another read: "ANC is under attack Gwede [Mantashe, ANC
secretary-general] save it. No bail for China".
State opposing bail
Earlier, the court heard the State was opposing bail.
Prosecutor Riekie Krause said if the men were released, local residents would
be shocked and outraged. Several of them had also failed to disclose previous
criminal convictions or pending cases, she told the court.
Chika, 33, was shot point-blank range in the driveway of his
Klerksdorp home on 14 December. He died in a local hospital.
"The State has a strong case against the applicant
[Dodovu]," Krause said.
She said he had three passports: a diplomatic one and two
personal ones.
Another accused, Sihlangu Sekhakhane, had previously
confessed to the crime. He had also led police to his gun, Krause submitted.
She said forensics had later matched the bullets which killed Chika to this
gun.
The other six accused are community member Jeffrey Letuka,
North West provincial ANC Youth League chairperson Papiki Baboile, ward
secretary Paul Molomonyane, councillor Itumeleng Molebatsi, municipal worker
William Malefo, and taxi driver Kgotso Kali.
The court heard that Sekhakhane had claimed to have met Kali
in a BMW X5 shortly before the crime.
Kali allegedly told him that Chika had to be killed before
he could attend the African National Congress's conference in Mangaung, in
December.
Krause confirmed that Baboile owned a BMW X5.
She told the court an unnamed witness had confirmed to the
State that some of the eight had previously discussed murdering Chika during a
meeting. Krause said bail was also being opposed because some of the applicants
knew "witness X".
- Were you there? Send us your eyewitness accounts and photos.
- SAPA
