Charges dropped against 48 Mooi River protesters
Charges against 48 of the 56 people arrested during Sunday's protest action in Mooi River in KwaZulu-Natal have been dropped.
Protesters targetted trucks on the N3 highway near the Mooi River Toll Plaza - looting their loads and setting 23 of them alight.
The damage is estimated at around R200 million. The protest is said to have been over truck driver jobs.
Only eight of the suspects appeared in the town's magistrates court earlier today.
Six adults, including one woman, and two minors appeared in court on Wednesday.
The charges against the other 48 have been dropped due to insufficient evidence.
The suspects who appeared in court today face charges of theft. The state alleges that during the chaos they looted several trucks and stole more than 40 kilograms of meat as well 48 bottles of mayonnaise and 96 boxes of tissues.
The case was adjourned to next week for a possible bail application. The suspects were remanded in custody until their next court appearance.