Wits hostage-taker in court
2003-02-17 17:03
Johannesburg - A University of the Witwatersrand student, who was arrested after he allegedly took a staff member of the institution hostage earlier this month, appeared in the Johannesburg regional court for a bail application on Monday.
The prosecution was unsuccessful in its request that the application be postponed so it could verify Thapelo Moselenyane's personal details.
The application continued after defence attorney, Votani Majola, referred to Section 29 of the Constitution which stated that everyone had the right to education.
He pointed out that Moselenyane, 23, had been in custody for 12 days and that any further postponement would be prejudicial.
Following this, regional magistrate Vivian Hawkins ruled against the postponement.
In his testimony, investigating officer Inspector Jacobus van Graan said he opposed bail because of the seriousness of the crime and he feared Moselenyane might intimidate witnesses.
Sketching the background to the crime, Van Graan said that on February 5 about 10:30, Moselenyane was at the university campus to sort-out financial problems relating to his studies when he allegedly chased a person known as Nazeema at knifepoint.
He then took assistant registrar Glenda Lane hostage after Nazeema fled as security officers entered the premises.
It was alleged that Moselenyane held a knife to Lane's throat and instructed security guards to lock the door from the outside and throw the keys to him.
Lane, an asthmatic, was taken ill and was allowed to use her asthma inhaler. Moselenyane also tied her hands with a computer cable.
The bail application continues on Tuesday.
- SAPA