March and March leader granted bail, some charges withdrawn

March and March uMgungundlovu activist Advocate Rasta Nhlangulela walked out of the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday after being granted R2 000 bail, to a jubilant welcome from supporters. Nhlangulela appeared for his formal bail application following his arrest by Pietermaritzburg Central police after a March and March protest against illegal immigration in an area known as Little Somalia in West Street, Pietermaritzburg, last month. Police said the arrest followed a criminal case opened by members of the Somali business community.

Nhlangulela was initially charged with attempted murder, assault, robbery, house robbery and housebreaking. His bail application was postponed last week to allow police to verify his residential address. He returned to court on Friday after the verification process had been completed.

During Friday’s bail hearing, Nhlangulela’s lawyer, Siyabonga Mbandlwa, argued that there was no tangible evidence linking his client to the offences. Mbandlwa told The Witness that the State was now proceeding only with a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), after the attempted murder, robbery, house robbery and housebreaking charges were withdrawn. After hearing submissions from the State and defence, the magistrate granted Nhlangulela bail of R2 000.

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He is expected to return to the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on 29 October for trial. uMgungundlovu March and March leader Mxolisi Nxumalo welcomed the ruling, saying the movement had always maintained that Nhlangulela was innocent.

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