All Charges Against the Kwandengezi Eight Dropped
The KwaNdengezi Eight were amongst the eleven comrades arrested on 19 May this year after a protest against their
Councillor, the notorious Nqola (Mduduzi Ngcobo). Charges against some comrades were dropped some time ago and on
Friday, 26 July 2013, all charges were withdrawn against the remaining eight comrades in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court
on the grounds that the police had not been able to provide any evidence against the accused.
Since our movement was formed in 2005 there has been a constant pattern of people being arrested on trumped up charges,
sometimes assaulted, and forced to pay bail and to keep returning to court until the charges are dropped because there
is no evidence against the accused. It has now become clear beyond any reasonable doubt that the charges brought against
the members of our movement are routinely fabricated as they cannot stand in court.
There were celebrations into the night in KwaNdengezi on Friday.
However while people were celebrating the recent withdrawal of charges they continued to worry about the situation in
the area.
On the same day the we were marching in Siyanda an Induna in KwaNdengezi by the name of Mr. Dingisono Ndlovu was
arrested by a team of police investigators who identified themselves as coming from the Provincial Task Team. He was
detained for two days, presumably for questioning. When he was released, he alleged that he had been tortured by the
police while in custody. The same Induna received medical attention. The movement is not against the police
investigating real crimes in the area but we are against any use of torture by the police.
The Inkosi in the area, Mr. B. Shozi, denies having signed any documents authorising the Municipality to take over
certain portions of land in the name of development. The people in the area have not given their consent to this
development. Yet the Municipality continues to do what it wants without regard to the people living in KwaNdengezi.
The residents of KwaNdengezi remain in limbo. Their concerns have not been addressed. The struggle will continue.
ENDS