A MAN, who was arrested after firing shots on Kennedy Road where ActionSA was preparing to launch a branch, made his first appearance in the Durban Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 17 June.
Xolani Radebe from Kennedy Road, Durban, faces two charges, one for pointing a firearm and the other for firing a firearm in public.
Radebe was arrested on Sunday, 15 June, immediately after the incident where he opened fire as ActionSA members were preparing to launch a branch.
During his appearance, Magistrate Ntokozo Myeni read him his rights, and Radebe told the court he would represent himself.
Magistrate Myeni said: "The court is of the view that charges against you are serious but the court also advises you to get legal aid, but you are not forced to."
Radebe insisted on representing himself.
Magistrate Myeni also informed him about an application that was made by the media to take pictures and recordings during court proceedings, and Radebe said he doesn't want his pictures taken in court because it will upset his children and family members.
The magistrate ruled against Radebe and permitted proceedings to be recorded, and pictures taken during the court session.
The matter proceeded and it was remanded because verification of Radebe's address had to be done, and he will then make bail application.
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The court gallery was packed as ActionSA members were present along with the party's Provincial chairman Zwakele Mncwango and other leaders.
Outside court, Mncwango said they were concerned about what happened on Sunday, 15 June, especially because their president (Herman Mashaba) was going to be present.
"After seeing the suspect in court, I remember that this is not the first time he had done this. This is the same guy who nearly knocked us with a bus he was driving when we had gathered on Kennedy Road. He once almost hit our members with a scooter. I wasn't there on that incident," he said.
Mncwango said some ActionSA members didn't come to court because they fear the suspect.
"I was informed by some residents that he was arrested for another case which he ran away from in 2012. I have informed the KZN Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi about this as well."
Mncwango said although the launch was cancelled, it doesn't mean they will not do another launch.
ActionSA had to cancel its Kennedy Road branch launch after shots were fired during preparations.
The matter was postponed for 24 June. Radebe was remanded in custody.
