Johannesburg – Alleged key instigator in the violent looting incidents that ravaged parts of South Africa last week and former Ukhozi FM radio host, Ngizwenkosi Mchunu, has been flagged as a flight risk by the National Prosecuting Authority.
Mchunu made a brief appearance at the Randburg Magistrate Court in Johannesburg on Wednesday and his matter was postponed to the 28th of July where he is expected to formally lodge a bail application.
He is charged with incitement to commit public violence after issuing an ultimatum, threatening the government to release Zuma, saying if the calls were not heeded, hell would break loose.
He subsequently organised a press briefing in Johannesburg encouraging citizens to support the #FreeZumaNow campaign who is languishing at the Estcourt prison facing a 15-month contempt of court sentence.
Mthunzi Mhaga, NPA spokesperson said the NPA was pushing for Mchunu to be denied bail on the grounds that he was a flight risk.
“We will be arguing that during his address in Johannesburg, the accused used inflammatory statements which amounted to the incitement of public violence. More charges might also be added on the charge sheet,” said Mhaga.
Mchunu was fingered by police investigators as one of the 12 masterminds of the pro-Zuma protests.
He said Mchunu will be held at the Johannesburg station until he makes his court appearance.
Meanwhile, Bonginkosi Khanyile, one of the key leaders of the #FeesMustFall said Mchunu was being used as a scapegoat.
“The state slept on duty and now they are trying every trick in the book to find scapegoats for their lapses. The issue that the state doesn’t want to face is that the unlawful incarceration of President Zuma brought us here,” said Khanyile.
Both Khanyile and Mchunu hails from eNkandla, the ancestral village of former president Zuma.
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