The Mthatha
\nHigh Court has dismissed an appeal by three ring leaders of the Mthatha-based
\nPublic Assets Community Based Tenants Association (PACTOA) to be released on
\nbail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sicelo
\nNkqayi (49), Zamikhaya Songca (39) and Bongani Cikolo (44) have been under police
\ncustody since their arrest on October 10, 2022 by the Directorate for Priority
\nCrimes Investigation (HAWKS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are
\nfacing charges of theft and fraud in relation to invasion of numerous Mthatha
\nproperties owned by the Eastern Cape Development Corporation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The trio is
\nalleged to have claimed monthly rentals, amounting to millions of rands, from
\ntenants for their personal gain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They unsuccessfully
\napproached the Mthatha High Court to appeal an earlier ruling by the Mthatha
\nMagistrate\u2019s Court on December 13 last year, to deny them bail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt emerged
\nduring their bail application that they had circulated WhatsApp messages from
\ncustody, telling their members and other tenants to continue paying rent to
\nthem for their legal fees. The state submitted that some tenants, who are
\nnow state witnesses, were allegedly coerced into becoming members of PACTOA
\nthrough violence and were fearful of the organisation,\u201d said National
\nProsecuting Authority regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cState
\nAdvocate, Thenjwa Sellem, successfully convinced the court to confirm the
\ndecision of the lower court. The court agreed with the prosecution that
\nthe state has a strong case against the trio, and they had the propensity of
\ncommitting other offences,\u201d Tyali added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PACTOA is
\nalleged to have targeted ECDC-owned residential and commercial properties in
\nand around Mthatha, where they made tenants sign lease agreements with the
\nassociation and had rentals deposited into their bank accounts, between August
\n2017 and September 2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The matter
\nwas reported to the Hawks in 2019, and investigations revealed that ECDC was
\nprejudiced cash to the value of more than R40 million. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The trio
\nmade their first court appearance at the Mthatha Magistrate\u2019s Court on October
\n11, 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The matter was
\nremanded to April 28, 2023 for the defense to be furnished with docket
\ncontents. The state has indicated that it is ready to proceed with a
\ntrial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Mthatha
\nHigh Court ruling was delivered on April 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Mthatha High Court has dismissed an appeal by three ring leaders of the Mthatha-based Public Assets Community Based Tenants Association (PACTOA) to be released on 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