Johannesburg - The Patel siblings and their family are traumatised following their arrest during recent anti-terrorism raids and have asked for their privacy.
This is according to Ebrahim and Fatima Patel’s lawyer Yousha Tayob following the pair’s brief appearance in the Kagiso Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
After the cases against them were postponed to September 20 for further investigation, the pair and their relatives raced out of the courtroom in a bid to avoid the media contingent.
Tayob then told reporters to respect their privacy. “I think you need to show some empathy,” he said, adding that others, including convicted murderer Oscar Pistorius, were not arrested or charged with terrorism despite being found with ammunition.
“These are Muslims charged with terrorism.”
He said the family were traumatised at the siblings’ arrest and that they came from a conservative community.
During their appearances in court, the Patels wore full Muslim attire, which covered them from head to toe.
Some of their relatives sat in the public gallery in the courtroom, which was monitored by armed police officers.
The siblings were arrested in Azaadville on the West Rand by the Hawks during anti-terrorism raids across Gauteng on July 9.
Despite the warrant of arrest being issued under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorism and Related Activities Act, the Patels were not charged under any terrorism legislation.
Instead, Ebrahim, 33, was charged under the Explosives Act after a stun grenade was found in his house, and Fatima, 24, was charged under the Firearms Control Act for possession of 21 bullets.
Tayob said Ebrahim was in possession of the stun grenade during his time as a community policing forum member and had failed to return it.
Fatima has maintained that the ammunition belonged to her brother, who had it for hunting purposes.
Although the pair were denied bail last Monday, Tayob brought an urgent application before the high court in Joburg on Wednesday and they were released on R5 000 bail each.
They have since been given stringent bail conditions, including reporting to a police station twice a week, handing over their passports and informing the investigating officer if they leave the province.
The brother and sister were arrested at the same time as twin brothers Brandon-Lee and Tony-Lee Thulsie, of Newclare, who were expected to appear on separate charges in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The twins have been charged with three counts of contravening the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act.
They are accused of plotting to attack a US mission and Jewish institutions in South Africa.
The twins allegedly attempted several times to travel to Syria to support Islamic State.
Representatives for the Patel siblings and Thulsie twins said they don’t know each other, and it is unclear if the two cases are related.
The National Prosecuting Authority and the Hawks were unavailable for comment.
The Star