Fort Hare students released on warning

There were tears, deep sighs and whispered “thank you’s” in the Dikeni magistrate’s court on Thursday when 13 students arrested in connection with unrest at the town’s University of Fort Hare campus were released on warning.

Outside the court, they embraced family and friends.

The accused, who face charges of malicious damage to property and theft, are:

Mmiselo Mthonjeni, 25, from Mandela Park in Mthatha; Sifiso Gogi from Haven Hills in East London; Ntokozo Mandara, 22, from Mdakeni village in Lusikisiki; Mafuza Ningi, 18, from Upper Ncerha village in Dikeni; Noluyolo Madikizela, 20, from Mpetsheni village in Mbizana; Sabatha Qumbisa, 19, of Izingolweni village in Port Shepstone; Enam Gift Ntlonti, 22, Ngxoji village; Shalomn Euseni, 21, from Zimbabwe; Khanya Poswa, 22, from Tyhali 1 in Dikeni; Aseza Cingo, 24, from Ngobozana village in Port St Johns; Siphe Dike, 22, of Upper Gqumashe; Sinovuyo Ngqhangi, 19, from Lower Mjika in Tsolo, and; Asiphile Tshwati, 22, from Tshwati village in Dutywa.

State prosecutor Zikhona Mzizi argued for the accused to be released on R1,000 bail, saying the amount was fair considering the damage caused at the university’s Dikeni campus on Sunday.

The damage is estimated to be around R700,000.

Mzizi said the accused had no previous convictions or pending cases, and their addresses had been verified.

But defence teams representing the 13 argued that the accused were students and could not afford the bail amount.

Attorney Asanda Mgangatho from Mgangatho Attorneys, for all the accused except Euseni, argued for the accused to be released on warning.

“They are not flight risks. They reside within the institution. If released on warning, [they] will adhere to bail conditions.”

Josie Meinie from MA Fredericks & Associates Inc, who is acting for Euseni, lamented the state of finances of the students. “Some are funded by NSFAS ... They can’t be prejudiced by assumptions they can afford it. There’s no indication that they will not comply with bail conditions.”

They were arrested on Monday and accused of being behind Sunday’s looting and burning rampage.

Magistrate Luyolo Vena, in granting the bail pleas, said: “I’ve taken into account that the accused are students at Fort Hare and I’ve looked at their addresses in the record.

“It was submitted they are not flight risks.”

The accused will be back in the dock on July 28.