No treason charges for Bellville Six and protesting students
The students arrested in Cape Town for breaching parliamentary security do not face treason charges, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation – better known as the Hawks said on Thursday.
“Contrary to allegation doing the rounds that there were Cape Town students who were charged with treason following the mayhem at the Parliament on Wednesday, the management of the police and the Hawks would like to set the record straight and dispel such malicious rumours,” said acting spokesperson of the acting National Police Commissioner Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi.
On Thursday morning, as the 29 arrested students appeared in court, it was reported that some of the students would be charged with treason. This was allegedly confirmed by the legal representative for the Bellville Six, Bruce Hendricks.
The group arrested outside of National Assembly on Wednesday have been dubbed the Bellville Six. The group includes son of struggle stalwart Reverend Frank Chikane and University of Cape Town student Kgotsi, Rhodes Must Fall movement leader Chumani Maxwele, and activist organisation Black First Land First’s Lindsay Maasdorp.
Police have however outright denied treason charges were made.
“They will appear before the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, facing charges of Trespassing and Contravening the Gatherings Act,” said Mulaudzi.
Mulaudzi urged media houses and journalists to “ascertain the exact charges or get facts before publishing or posting on their personal social media accounts”.
“Irresponsible reporting and speculations have the potential of fuelling unnecessary violence.” - ANA
(File photo: Gallo Images)