The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) has welcomed the arrest of two men who are believed to be behind the taxi-related strike which led to all major routes into Mthatha being blocked on Monday.
While police moved in swiftly to restore law and order on the day, they have also been working around the clock to trace those behind the incitement of violence.
On Thursday, the alleged instigators were traced to Mthatha in the Eastern Cape.
A member of a taxi association in the OR Tambo District, 52-year-old Mthuthuzeli Sogoni was wanted in relation to a voice note he allegedly circulated inciting violence and mobilising people not to vote.
This as South Africans went to the polls in the country’s seventh National and Provincial Elections on Wednesday.
The second accused is 47-year-old Ncebo Nkosi, who was arrested after he recorded a video of himself allegedly calling for taxi operators and owners to disrupt the elections and embark on violent protests.
The two men appeared in
the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court this morning on charges of inciting public violence, contravention of the Cybercrimes Act and contravention of the Electoral Act.
They are out on R3 000 bail each. Their case has been remanded to 22 July 2024.
The inflammatory messages shared by the pair were spread widely on various social media platforms.
‘The NATJOINTS has repeatedly warned social media users to refrain from posting and sharing inflammatory messages that could cause harm, mobilise communities to incite violence and engage in criminal acts,’ it said.
The NATJOINTS has also been consistent in assuring communities that law enforcement agencies would act decisively against those found to be on the wrong side of the law.
‘It is against this background that the NATJOINTS welcomes the decisive action taken against those who contravene the rule of law.
‘Members of the public are once again discouraged from sharing inflammatory messages that quite often redirect and divert police resources and personnel from att
ending to serious and violent related crimes,’ NATJOINTS said.
Source: South African Government News Agency