Four July unrest ‘instigators’ appear in Joburg court
Four suspects accused of inciting riots and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng nearly four years ago have lined up in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court, north-west of Johannesburg.
Warrants of arrest were issued for them in Roodeport this week.
The accused, one of whom is from KZN, turned themselves over to police on Tuesday morning through their legal representatives.
The civil unrest in July 2021 left over 300 people dead.
It broke out after former president Jacob Zuma was jailed for contempt of court, even though the South African Human Rights Commission later found no link between the two.
READ: Zuma-Sambudla set to go on trial for July unrest
"The arrests emanate from the July 2021 unrest where it was alleged that supporters of former president Jacob Zuma, participated in a WhatsApp chat group which was named ZUMA REAL ACTIVIST 100% and other chat groups on the platform where they’d post inciting messages which it is believed to have led to the public violence as well as the looting of retail stores in Gauteng and Kwa Zulu Natal at the time,” said Hawks spokesperson Katlego Mogale.
“Thorough investigations were conducted by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime, Crimes Against the State in Gauteng and upon completion of the investigations, the Director of Public Prosecutions has taken a decision to prosecute those who posted messages which led to the unrest."
The four have been granted bail of R1,500 each.
Mogale says more arrests are imminent.
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