Several protesters carried portable flush toilets and sang freedom songs on a train to central Cape Town, the court heard.
|||Cape Town - Several protesters carried portable flush toilets and sang freedom songs on a train to central Cape Town, the Cape Town Magistrate's Court heard on Thursday.
Investigating officer Warrant Officer Warren Smith, said he was told by railway police of the events that took place in Woodstock on Monday morning, which led to the arrests of 184 people.
“It was specifically mentioned... that the seven accused that were charged first were all in possession of one of these portaloos,” he said.
“They proceeded to sing freedom songs and danced by putting the portaloos between their legs and jumping up and down.”
He said the words to one of the songs was “Zille is a dog”, and confirmed it was most likely a reference to Western Cape premier Helen Zille.
Smith was testifying in the bail applications of three of the accused, former councillor and ANC Youth League member Andile Lili, Yandani Kulati, and Thembela Mbanjwa.
The four other alleged “ringleaders” were released on warning on Wednesday, along with 176 other protesters, and told to return to court on August 2 after further investigation.
They were all charged with public violence and convening a gathering without notice.
The State is opposing the bail of Lili, Kulati, and Mbanjwa. Prosecutor David Jacobs asked Smith how police knew there would be a protest.
Smith said a Warrant Officer Ngloko had received information from an informant in Khayelitsha of a “gathering of protests against service delivery” on Monday.
Ngloko had arrived at Chris Hani train station around 7am on Monday and noticed around 12 people with portable toilets. One of the people identified himself as Lili.
“He asked him 1/8Lili 3/8 what they were doing at the station. According to the warrant officer, the answer was that they're on their way to Cape Town and about to throw faeces onto the Parliament.”
Ngloko then contacted members of the public order police and others for back-up. He joined the group getting onto the train. More people joined them as the train stopped at other stations, Smith said. The public order police cordoned off Esplanade station in Woodstock and stopped trains coming through.
Jacobs asked Smith why there was a perception that Lili was leading the procession.
“Some people in the train wanted to run (when it stopped) but they were instructed by accused number one (Lili) and the order was not to run and to remain calm,” Smith replied.
“Also at various stages, he calmed people down in the trains. This gave the impression... that he could possibly be the ringleader of the group.”
Smith said that from reading statements, he was of the impression that the group co-operated with police. - Sapa