Hostage drama: 11 struggle veterans due back in court for bail
Eleven suspects accused of holding two ministers hostage at the St George’s Hotel in Irene will apply for bail at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Friday morning.
They are part of the 53 former uMkhonto we Sizwe combatants who face kidnapping charges among others, after blocking Defence Minister Thandi Modise, Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele and Deputy Minister Thabang Makwetla from leaving the venue. They had been meeting to discuss various grievances and complaints by the vets.
The 11 suspects who will appear in court were found to have previous convictions when the applications of 42 others who were granted bail were processed.
The 42 people were granted R500 bail each this week.
Their trial will only begin in February next year.
The group is accused of kidnapping, with the State considering adding treason to the list of charges.
However, the decision would need to be authorized by the National Director of Public Prosecutions before adding them to the charge sheet.
The MK veterans had been pleading for a set of social benefits from the government for years, with the meeting, which ended in chaos, part of the negotiations underway to reach a settlement.
-EWN
In other news – Why these Actors were fired from The Queen
Mzansi Magic’s hit telenovela The Queen has experienced its fair share of actors leaving the show. Shona and Connie Ferguson, who produced the show, explained the high turnover saying that it is the nature of the industry. Characters come and go as telenovelas continuously reinvent the storyline.
However, sometimes the actors do not leave the show of their own accord. Below are some of the actors who were fired from The Queen. Learn More
