The ANC ward councillor charged with murder after a Zimbabwean man was stoned to death was released on bail by the Seshego Magistrate's Court on Monday.
Limpopo police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said 29-year-old Tebogo Mogapelo along with her 11 co-accused were let out on R5000 bail each and would return to court on August 16 for the case to continue.
Mulaudzi said the names of the co-accused were not available, but would be made so by Tuesday.
“The court was packed. There were two groups, some were angry that they were not released and others were angry that they received bail,” he said.
However police had no problems and the crowd was “well behaved”.
The Zimbabwean man was stoned to death at Section 75, Seshego, last Monday. Locals alleged he had killed two South Africans during a house robbery. Mulaudzi last week said groups of local residents had been intimidating foreigners.
On Monday, rights group People Suffering Against Oppression and Poverty (Passop) said the ANC should act “decisively” against party members linked to xenophobic violence.
Newly elected councillors should also be educated on the ANC's position on violence, co-ordinator Braam Hanekom said in a statement.
The party should investigate violence against foreigners and expel councillors or members found to be involved.
Limpopo ANC spokesman David Masondo said in a statement earlier the party “upholds the principle of innocent until proven guilty”.
“We reiterate that no one is above the law and any person, including our ANC members found violating the law, should be punished accordingly.”
Masondo called on people not to take the law into their own hands. -
Sapa