Sphithiphithi Evaluator: Alleged unrest instigator’s court appearance moved for ’security reasons’
Johannesburg - The court appearance of an alleged instigator of the recent unrest and looting was moved to the Germiston Magistrate’s Court because of “security reasons” on Monday morning.
The 36-year-old woman, known as “Sphithiphithi Evaluator” on Twitter and using the handle @African Soil, was arrested over the weekend.
According to the Hawks, the woman, who has more than 60 000 followers on Twitter, was arrested on Sunday during a search-and-seizure operation in Leondale, Gauteng, which resulted in the confiscation of exhibits for further investigation.
The woman was due to appear in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court, but her appearance was quickly moved to the Germiston Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning because of “security reasons”.
She is facing charges of incitement to commit public violence.
The spokesperson for the #FreeJacobZuma campaign, suspended ANC member Carl Niehaus, was present outside the court.
According to the Hawks, members of the Crimes Against the State unit worked together with Crime Intelligence and arrested two suspects this weekend.
The other suspect is due to appear in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The 35-year-old suspect was alleged to have been involved in the incitement of public violence in KwaZulu-Natal through social media and other platforms.
According to the Hawks, as a result of his actions, the Brookside Mall in Pietermaritzburg was broken into and criminal activities, such as the theft of goods, occurred. The mall was set alight.
“Investigations against those who incite, instigate or conspire with others to commit crime, including public violence, are continuing,” the spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Colonel Katlego Mogale, said.
kailene.pllay@inl.co.za
Political Bureau
Two suspects bust with drugs worth R160k just outside Oudtshoorn
Cape Town - Two suspects are expected to appear in the Oudtshoorn Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of dealing in drugs after they were allegedly caught with drugs with an estimated street value of R160 000.
In a statement released on Sunday, Western Cape provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Christopher Spies said the two suspects, aged 33 and 35, were arrested by the police’s Rural Flying Squad on Friday.
He said that at about 6.20pm officers were conducting patrols along the N12 highway when they spotted a Mercedes-Benz en route to Oudtshoorn.
Spies said officers noticed the occupants of the vehicle were acting suspiciously and threw parcels out of the moving vehicle.
The officers pursued the vehicle and stopped it just outside Oudtshoorn.
Officers searched the vehicle and discovered a consignment of crystal meth and mandrax tablets.
“It was later established that the parcels which were dropped along the road also contained packets of mandrax tablets. The police seized the vehicle and confiscated 1 579 mandrax tablets with an estimated street value of R125 000 as well as 92 grams of crystal meth valued at over R35 000,” Spies said.
He said the suspects are both from Thembalethu in George and face charges of dealing in drugs.
Spies said the strategic deployment of Flying Squad members on Western Cape roads yielded results, with the confiscation of more than R5 million worth of drugs during the past month alone.
“These drugs were destined for distribution in communities, but the concerted efforts of the police dealt the illicit drug trade a heavy blow when these consignments were intercepted,” he added.
African News Agency (ANA)
