Suspects in NUM killing denied bail
2012-10-24 15:45
Rustenburg - Two men accused of the murder of a NUM official were denied bail by the Rustenburg Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
Magistrate Carnel Badenhorst said it would not be in the interests of justice to grant Zenzile Nxenge and Siyakhale Kwazile bail.
They are accused of killing Daluvuyo Bongo, branch secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in Marikana.
"The two are members of a rival union to the deceased's union. Keeping you in custody is not a punishment, it is for your safety," said Badenhorst.
The State, in opposing bail, had argued that the men's Eastern Cape addresses had not been confirmed, and that the firearm used to kill Bongo had not been recovered.
The matter was postponed to 5 December for further investigation.
Members of the NUM and rival union, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) sang near the entrance to the court.
"We do not want NUM, we do not like [NUM president Senzeni] Zokwana," sang Amcu members, dressed in green T-shirts.
The NUM members, wearing their red T-shirts, responded by singing the same song, but with Amcu references.
"We do not want Amcu, we do not like [Amcu president Joseph] Mathunjwa."
The NUM T-shirts had an image of Bongo's face on the front, with the words "My blood shall nourish the tree of NUM's survival" written on the back.
Other T-shirts had the slogans: "Reclaim Lonmin" and "United we bargain divided we beg".
A poster displayed by an Amcu supporter read: "Stop the abuse of state resources, release mineworkers."
Access to the courtroom was strictly controlled. The front bench was reserved for NUM officials.
- SAPA
