Cape Town - The seven men accused of dumping human waste at Cape Town International Airport were released from Pollsmoor Prison on Saturday, after being granted bail of R2 000 each in the Western Cape High Court.
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said the conditions include them reporting daily to the police, and “they must not be involved in any protest action”.
But protest leader and ANC councillor Loyiso Nkohla was adamant on Saturday that they weren’t going down quietly: “We’ll never back down just because we are being arrested,” he said.
The ANC has distanced itself from the actions of Nkohla and Andile Lili, expelled ANC councillor and alleged co-instigator of the protests. Provincial secretary Songezo Mjongile confirmed that the two would face a disciplinary committee.
After leaving the prison on Saturday, the seven men addressed a community meeting in Barcelona.
Nkohla said he could not believe the city and the government had not called the people in affected communities together to discuss issues, and figure out a way to move forward. “For us to be released, we are not happy at all, because we have not had our day in a court…”
Another of the seven, Bongile Zanazo, said there had been no changes in communities, so the protests “will not stop”.
“The situation of flushing toilets has not changed,” he said. “We thought our sacrifice in prison would bring change.”
The protesters promised a statement this week on their future action.
They are due back in court on August 5.
Sithembele Majova, a spokesman for the Western Cape informal settlements interim task team, said in Khayelitsha on Saturday that the next step would be to meet to decide how to go forward.
“There’s nothing that will change now that they are back. We cannot say that it is a victory. The government has just given them the condition of bail. It’s not a solution,” he said.
“We see no justice – just that they were kept in prison as criminals and offenders. The protests will continue, whatever it takes. We will make sure that the people’s voices are heard throughout the country.”
Leaders Lili and Nkohla were previously released with a warning for a similar offence, on condition that they did not participate in any further protests. This condition was violated when they allegedly ordered the dumping of faeces.
Their successful bail application at the high court comes after they were denied bail by the Bellville Magistrate’s Court earlier this month. Magistrate Jannie Kotze ruled that because they were likely to commit similar offences in the future, it was not in the interests of justice to release them.
At that same hearing, two others who were charged, Bantubakhe Mqobodiya and Wandisile Mkapa, were granted bail of R500 each.
All nine are accused of dumping 10 buckets of faeces at the airport.
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