JOHANNESBURG – A high court judge on Wednesday ruled that it would be wrong to deny Witwatersrand University student leader Mcebo Dlamini bail and subsequently ordered his release.
Dlamini,30, who faces charges of public violence, theft, malicious damage to property and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm following his arrest at his Wits residence in October, was released on bail of R2,000.
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng at the High Court sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court said the premise of denying Dlamini bail was not sound and consequently wrong.
“Dlamini is fixed at R2,000 and the conditions are that he is ordered to desist from unlawful disruption of the academic activities of Wits, he is entitled to participate in lawful activities on the campus, not to interfere with the charges against him and is prohibited from communicating with witnesses,” Judge Mokgoatlheng said.
“I listened to the arguments and I’m of the view that I’m able to arrive to a decision,” Judge Mokgoatlheng said. “It will just be a ruling and a judgement will follow which will explain the reasons as to how I reached my decision.”
Judge Mokgoatlheng said Dlamini had previously been denied bail because it was deemed not in the interest of justice when taking into account the charges he faced.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokeswoman, Phindi Louw, said: ” We accept the court’s decision we need to correct the insinuation that the prosecution was politically-motivated. We need to make it clear that the decision was based on facts surrounding the case and nothing to do with politics.”
– African News Agency (ANA)
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