The Northern Cape Acting Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection, Brigadier Nicky Mills welcomed the jail term handed down on James Esau, Nicolaas Smous, Hendrick Boesak, Julian de Koker, Christo Titus, Shepherd Mienies, Elvis Duiker, Isaak Obuseng, and Thabang Mienies accused of public violence and malicious damage to property.
The nine were convicted by the Kuruman Regional Court on Monday, 13 June 2022. They were sentenced to six years imprisonment, which was suspended for five years.
The court granted them 15 days of leave to appeal the sentence. It came to light during court proceedings that the nine accused committed public violence in Olifantshoek in June 2012.
The accused were arrested and later released on bail. The trial resumed in 2017. On Friday, 08 April 2022 the accused were found guilty of public violence and malicious damage to property and were remanded in custody until they were sentenced.
The case was transferred to the Kuruman Regional Court for sentencing. The accused were the ring leaders of the Olifantshoek community members that set alight the property of the then ward councilor in Olifantshoek. A house worth R1.1 million belonging to the then ward councilor including the house contents to the value of R590 000-00 and a motor vehicle was gutted in the blaze caused by the accused.
The court heard that community members went on a rampage destroying infrastructure, closing down the streets, and bringing everything to a standstill, in demand of service delivery.
“The jail sentence will serve as a deterrent, to those who destroy property during service delivery protest”, says Brigadier Mills.
Brigadier Nicky Mills praised the investigating officer, Sergeant J.A.M Tyers for the meticulous investigative work and commended the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) including the Department of Justice (DoJ) for their contribution in ensuring the incarceration of the accused.