By Mpho Modiba
LULEKANI-Phalaborwa town was a bee hive of activity when thousands of Phalaborwa Concerned Community Members marched to Phalaborwa Magistrate court on Thursday to raise their concerns about the stringent bail conditions of their Chairperson Edwin Notwane Malatji.
One of the conditions is that he is not allowed to address the masses or even call a community meeting because according to the magistrate, Malatji is highly influential.
Phalaborwa Concerned Community members representative Dephney Malatji said these conditions are oppressive and deny their chairperson Edwin Malatji the freedom of expression which is enshrined in section 16 of the Constitution of South Africa.
“This is our oppressive bail conditions are meant to silence their leader and mute him because they do not want to hear the truth”
Malatji was arrested by the Hawks the day he went to court to support two members Phalaborwa concerned community members who were arrested following the burning of trucks in the area.
They are out on R2000 bail. Malatji was subsequently taken to Giyani police station cells and was travelling to Phalaborwa magistrate court on the days of his court appearance. In his appearance, he was given a bail of R50 000 which his lawyer negotiated to R15 000 bail.
