Durban - One of the three accused in the kidnapping of a British couple claimed he doesn't know why he has been arrested.
This is what 19-year-old Thembamandla Kwanele Xulu told magistrate Valaramen Kathravaloo. He was in the doc with his co-accused Sayfydeen Aslam Del Vecchio, 38, and Fatima Patel, 27, earlier on Thursday in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court.
The three appeared briefly while the matter was adjourned to March 6 for a formal bail application.
Rod Saunders an indigenous seed collector and his wife Rachel who are from Cape Town, were travelling around northern KwaZulu-Natal and were last seen in the Hlobane area on February 12.
Their vehicle was seized last Friday at a property in Ongoye, near Mtunzini. Del Vecchio and Patel were arrested after police swooped on the property in the remote area.
In court after Kathravaloo adjourned the matter he asked the accused if they had anything to say. Xulu said: “I don’t even know why I’m here,” He stood with his arms folded in a purple jacket next to Del Vecchio who held hands with Patel throughout proceedings.
Xulu, after hearing that his bail application would only go ahead next week, was shocked. “Hawu” he exclaimed.
“I know even a day is long but I have adjourned the matter to the earliest date as possible,” said Kathravaloo to Xulu.
Patel wore a black burka and black leather jacket while Del Vecchio carried a small sling bag containing what looked like a Qur'an. He wore a white men's tunic with a multi-coloured topi on his head. His hair was long.
Hawks spokesperson, Captain Lloyd Ramovha, said the search for the Saunders couple continues
According to the charge sheet Patel and Del Vecchio are charged with kidnapping, robbery, theft and contravening of sections 3(2)(e) of the protection of constitutional democracy against terrorist and related activities Act of 2004. this related to collecting and or possessing a document or a thing connected with the engagement in terrorist activity.
Vecchio is also charged with malicious injury to property in relation to the burning of a cane field belonging to Tongaat Hullet Sugar or Paul William Russel.
Del Vecchio and Xulu are charged with theft. Prosecutor Adele Barnard said in court that this had been changed to robbery with aggravated circumstances after the Saunders’ vehicle was recovered with blood in it.
Outside court Mbongeleni Xulu, Xulu’s older brother who lives in Mandeni, told The Independent On Saturday that while he didn’t live with his brother in Ongoye he has never known him to be a troublesome youngster.
“I don’t live with him, I’m only here because I wanted to see him as I was told he was in court after being arrested. I have no knowledge of what happened to land him in this position,” he said.
He said that Xulu was still at high school although he was not sure what grade he wasin. “Even if he fails a grade at school I’m not informed at home, all I know is that he goes to Ezakheleni High School”.