Durban — While 22 alleged instigators of the July 2021 public violence appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Friday, the case against a suspected instigator in the North West was transferred to KwaZulu-Natal.
The incitement is alleged to have been orchestrated following the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma and resulted in vigorous acts of looting and destruction of property which resulted in huge financial and job losses.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) North West spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the case against the July unrest suspected instigator was transferred to KZN.
“The Ventersdorp Magistrate’s Court transferred the case against Matthews Stanley Ntjontjo, 51, to the Regional Division of KwaZulu-Natal, set to appear on August 17, 2022, where further proceedings including bail application will be heard. He indicated that he would source the services of a private attorney, to represent him when the matter sits at the Durban Regional Court,” Mamothame said.
Ntjontjo was arrested following intensive investigations by the Hawks, and other law-enforcement agencies, at which he is charged with conspiracy to commit public violence, incitement to commit public violence and incitement to commit arson.
“The charges are linked to his alleged participation in a WhatsApp group that conspired with others by posting messages that created instability, through the looting of shops and businesses, as well as the destruction of properties through violent means during the period of 8-17 July 2021,” Mamothame said.
“Ntjontjo will remain in police custody until his next court appearance, at the Durban Regional Court where his case will be joined with that of the other accused persons, who are facing similar charges.”
NPA KZN spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the 22 people who appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Friday as alleged instigators of the July unrest were set R3 000 bail each.
The 22 are charged with conspiracy to commit public violence, incitement to commit public violence and incitement to commit arson, relating to the acts of looting and public violence that took place in parts of KZN during July 2021.
Ramkisson-Kara said bail was set at R3 000 with the following conditions:
- not to post any information regarding the case on social media.
- to inform the investigating officer should they wish to leave KZN.
- to inform the investigating officer should they change their residential address and or their contact number.
“The matter was remanded to August 26 for further investigations,” Ramkisson-Kara said.
Information on the arrest of 20 alleged July unrest instigators was shared by the Hawks on Thursday.
Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo said the Hawks had made significant inroads in probing alleged instigators in the incitement of public violence through social media and other platforms during the period of unrest in KZN, Gauteng and other parts of the county.
“The ongoing prosecution-guided investigation resulted in the arrest of 20 persons of interest on August 11,” Mbambo said.
“Joint police teams were mobilised to execute simultaneous arrests in various areas so as to secure court attendance of persons of interest, spread out in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, North West, Free State, Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces.”
“Investigation continues and more arrests are imminent,” Mbambo added.
The multidisciplinary team that made the arrests include the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Serious Corruption Investigation, Serious Commercial Crime Investigation, Digital Forensic Investigation, Priority Crime Management Centre of the Hawks, Crime Intelligence, National Intervention Unit, Public Order Policing, Tactical Response Team as well as Local Criminal Record Centre members.
Daily News