A Mozambican man granted bail initially in spite charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and illegally in South Africa is back behind bars in Welkom in the Free State.
The Bloemfontein Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team re-arrested the man after an intensive search.
The wayward accused Osvaldo Julia Cumbane (31) was initially granted bail in June 2020 after appearance in the Welkom Magistrate’s Court. The court granted the accused bail of R5 000, despite questionable circumstances.
The fact that he illegally entered South Africa and further the existing prospect he was a flight risk appeared too.
It emerged that Cumbane vanished after bail was granted in 2020, and furthermore failed to comply with the bail conditions that include to reappear in court regarding the criminal matter.
WO Fikiswa Matoti, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said the elite crime fighting wing re-arrested Cumbane after contempt of court. “Due to the accused not complying with the bail conditions, a warrant for re-arrest was issued,” said Matoti.
She said Cumbane was facing charges of unlawful possession of firearms, unlawful possession of ammunition, being illegally in South Africa and possession of suspected stolen property.
Matoti said the Welkom police arrested the accused on 16 June in 2020, acting after receiving reliable information he had unlicensed firearms.
“Cumbane was arrested by members after they seized two Norinco pistols and a magazine with rounds,” said Matoti.
The accused is set to stand trial soon. Mojalefa Senokoatsane, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the Free State and Northern Cape, said the case was re-enrolled on the court roll for attorney and transfer to continued in the Welkom Regional Court.
However, explanation has not been forthcoming from the prosecuting agency, there were compelling reasons the Welkom Court granted Cumbane bail under the circumstances of his illegitimacy in South Africa, and the alleged crime of possession of unlicensed ammunition and unlicensed firearms, which have been found to account more brutal killings in South Africa.
The Minister of police Bheki Cele, has since indicated that the findings by the South African Police Service (SAPS), firearms were the weapon of choice.
