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A gavel and a cone in a court room.
The investigating officer in the extortion and malicious damage to property case against former SAA board member, Yakhe Kwinana, has told the East London Magistrates Court that one of the victims of the demolition of homes on Kwinana’s land in Rockville farm is now living in a car.
Sergeant Smangaliso Mukhumo took to the witness stand to tell the court about the various demolition cases in the five dockets of malicious damage to property against Kwinana.
Kwinana was in court for her bail application.
Mukhumo, the state’s first witness, testified that the victims’ homes were demolished after they failed to pay a rent amount of R1,000. She alleged that during the demolition, the occupants’ personal belongings, including furniture and vehicles, were severely damaged and some items went missing.
When asked about other occupants, who were not the applicants in the matter, investigating officer Sergeant Mukhumo, told the court that some were threatened to not take part in the case.
“Some of them say they are scared to open cases, and there is this one who I say stays in a car, (who) said she has been followed by a car. As a result, she has removed her number plates; her vehicle is travelling with no number plates,” explains Mukhumo.
The state also argued that Kwinana was in contempt of court when she effected the demolitions, as she was interdicted by the complainants from demolishing the properties.
However, applicant Kwinana says she is within her rights.
“We are here talking about demolition. You said that judge Hartley’s order says I must not demolish and I have proven to you beyond reasonable doubt that the five rule list that is there does not say I must not demolish,” argues Kwinana.
Advising attorney in her defence team, Lindelwa Mbanjwa, concurs.
“Kwinana’s family business that is Slipknot Investment was entitled to demolish. That order has never been set aside and if you listen to the testimony of the investigating officer, they have not even touched on the relevance of those orders,” says Mbanjwa.
Sergeant Mukhumo will still be under oath when the matter continues on Thursday. Kwinana remains in custody.
Former SAA board member Yakhe Kwinana extortion case continues:
