REFILWE MEKOA
A large contingency of police officers will be deployed at the Bothaville Magistrate Court on Monday when members of the ANC and EFF appear on charges of public violence.
Free State police spokesperson Stephen Thakeng said he cannot mention the number of public order police officers who will be deployed to Bothaville but states that there will be “enough” to ensure that there is stability and peace. He explained twenty-nine people will appear in court for charges relating to public violence, malicious damage to property, arson and attempted murder. Out of the twenty-nine suspects, sixteen are believed to be EFF members while the remaining thirteen are ANC members.
Thakeng said a large number of members from the two political parties are expected to gather at the Bothaville court in support of their colleagues.
“There will be a large contingency of the police there because the ANC as well as the ANC have organized a picketing while court procedures carry on. That is one of the main reasons that we have ensured that there will be tight security just to ensure that the proceeding of the court goes very well,” he said.
Thakeng said all suspects are out on bail from various amounts ranging from R500 to R5000. It has been reported that ANC member and former Nala Municipality Mayor Godfrey Tsoai, was also arrested and is also out on bail.
Last month, Bothaville was plunged into violence after residence attempted to confront Nala Municipality over poor service delivery.
