Lili arrested for incitement

Cape Town-150728- Sesikhona Leaders Andile Lili and Loyiso Nkohla addressing their supporters outside Bellville Magistrate Court after they appeared on their case of throwing poo in airport-Picture by BHEKI RADEBE

Cape Town-150728- Sesikhona Leaders Andile Lili and Loyiso Nkohla addressing their supporters outside Bellville Magistrate Court after they appeared on their case of throwing poo in airport-Picture by BHEKI RADEBE

Published Jul 30, 2015

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Cape Town - ANC Provincial Executive Committee member and Ses’khona People’s Rights Movement leader Andile Lili was held by police on Wednesday night following remarks he allegedly made that “criminals must be killed”.

“They (the police) have arrested me for incitement. I am being held at the Cape Town police station after they took me from my house, and they want me to spend a night here,” Lili told the Cape Times during a telephone interview from the holding cells on Wednesday night.

Police spokeswoman Noloyiso Rwexana confirmed that a 40-year-old man was arrested and is expected to appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

The suspect is facing charges of incitement to commit acts of violence.

Lili’s arrest comes a day after reports that he had allegedly urged a crowd of Ses’khona supporters who gathered outside the Bellville Magistrate’s Court to take the law into their own hands to deal with criminals. [Read a report about what he said]

Lili and eight Ses’khona members appeared in court on Tuesday for violating the Civil Aviation Act after dumping human waste inside the Cape Town International Airport in 2013.

“I was addressing the people outside court. I highlighted various issues that affect our poor communities. Crime in our communities is one of the main challenges we are faced with. Elderly people live in fear because of thieves who rob and rape them. I will always speak for the poor because I represent them,” he said on Wednesday night.

Lili said he did not encourage the crowd to carry out mob justice, but under certain circumstances and with violent crimes, it was “justifiable”.

He said the justice system was failing those in poverty-stricken areas. He cited an incident of a young woman in Site C, Khayelitsha, who was raped and killed a few weeks ago, and her alleged attackers were later set free.

Asked whether his arrest would impact on his role as ANC PEC member, Lili said: “I would not understand if this has an impact. I was addressing our supporters as chairperson of Ses’khona.

“Faced with these criminals, there is no other response. I would never encourage it, I’m just saying… that is what happens in our communities.”

Provincial head of the Justice Department, Hishaam Mohamed, said mob justice should be condemned by all who upheld the constitution.

“We have noted with concern the growing trend of incidents of vigilantism and mob justice in parts of the province. This so-called mob justice is hardly a form of justice,” said Mohamed.

He urged all members of the communities to work together with enforcement agencies in identifying perpetrators of crime so that they were dealt with in accordance with the law.

“Furthermore, our communities and law enforcement agencies must ensure that the community policing forums and the street committees make it hard for criminals to hide. It remains the responsibility of all of us to ensure that the rule of law is upheld to ensure that (the) Western Cape becomes a place where all feel safe,” Mohamed said.

ANC provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs said: “We are very concerned about the arrest. We will be trying to get to the bottom of this. I have been trying to secure lawyers. All the events happened so fast, but I am sure he regrets his statement. It was a careless and irresponsible statement.”

Jacobs said the ANC would investigate the matter. He said the ANC in the province denounced any incitement of people to take the law into their own hands.

“Vigilantism is not justice. It is a form of criminal behaviour that is punishable under the law. Those who participate in these inglorious acts are just as guilty as those against whom they may act or seek to act,” Jacobs said.

Social Justice Coalition spokesperson Axolile Notywala said Lili’s “reckless and dangerous comments” were a call to murder and undermined the rule of law.

DA provincial leader Patricia de Lille said: “In a country where crime and violence is so prevalent, Mr Lili has shown shocking negligence and recklessness.” - Additional reporting by the Cape Argus

Cape Times

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