Four suspects who were arrested in connection with the 2021 July unrest appeared at Roodepoort Magistrate Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday, June 3.
Their matter was postponed to next month, said the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks). They will appear again in court on Wednesday July 2.
The four suspects were charged with incitement to commit public violence. Dr Bekuyise Cebekhulu, 58, from KwaZulu-Natal; Jimmy Sibeko, 44, from Gauteng; Busisiwe Skhosana, 52, also from Gauteng; as well as Bogadi Mahisa, 49, from Gautengwere each granted bail of R1 500.
According to the Hawks, more arrests are imminent.
“Their arrests emanate from the July 2021 unrest where it was alleged that supporters of former President Jacob Zuma participated in a WhatsApp group chat named ‘Zuma Real Activist 100%’. There were other chat groups on the platform where they would post inciting messages, which is believed to have led to the public violence as well as the looting of retail stores in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal at the time,” the Hawks said in a statement.
The protests, violence and looting erupted across the two provinces following the imprisonment of former President Zuma. Investigations were conducted by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime unit, Crimes Against the State (CATS) in Gauteng and upon completion of the investigations, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) took a decision to prosecute those who posted the messages.
Gauteng Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa welcomed the arrests and commended the investigating team.
“The Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (DPCI) will continue to secure in court the attendance of anyone against whom sufficient evidence of committing a national priority offence is obtained, without fear, favour or prejudice,” said Major General Kadwa.