POTCHEFSTROOM – The South African Police Service in the province noted with a great concern the letter that is being circulated through social media platforms notifying members of the community and employers in Bloemhof about apparent planned stay away on Monday, 21 October 2019, in solidarity of arrested leaders.
Members of the community are urged to ignore this letter that does not have the details of the writer, as it is meant to cause unnecessary fear. Law abiding citizens are advised to respect the rule of law and not to participate in actions that are destined to undermine and challenge the authority of the State.
The purported 16 leaders as indicated in the letter, are part of 22 people who were arrested between Monday, 30 September 2019 and 10 October 2019 for crimes such as kidnapping, assault with intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), murder, public violence and malicious damage to property, which were committed earlier this year. It was also at that time that the accused allegedly committed acts of mob justice in the guise of fighting crime. Consequent to their apprehension, they were duly processed and appeared in court several times. As a result, five of them were granted bail while the others are still in custody. They will reappear in court on Monday, 21 October 2019 and Wednesday, 6 November 2019.
The use of social media platforms to encourage, incite and mobilise others to commit crime is therefore discouraged. Furthermore, the police will not tolerate any criminality or action that is intended to cause destruction of property including Essential Infrastructure and disruption of basic services and schooling. We are therefore calling upon all members of the community to not only avoid being part of any action that is intended to undermine or challenge the authority of the State, but to join the legally established structures such as Community Police Forum which are meant to assist the police in the fight against crime, said Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane.
Source: South African Police Service