Arrested #OutSourcingMustFall activist Vusi Enok Mahlangu was remanded in custody yesterday when he appeared in the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court facing charges of perjury and defeating the ends of justice.
The 33-year-old Mahlangu will appear in court again tomorrow for a formal bail application. He was arrested in East London on Tuesday evening by members of the Hawks.
Mahlangu was in the presence of his two lawyers, one from Johannesburg and another from East London, when he was arrested.
The activist, who is being investigated by members of the Mthatha Organised Crimes Unit, made his first court appearance yesterday.
Charges against Mahlangu, a vocal and fierce opponent of outsourcing activities around South African universities, stem from allegations that he was kidnapped and assaulted while on his way to attend a workers’ meeting at Walter Sisulu University last Tuesday.
A missing person’s file was opened at the Mthatha Police Station and police efforts to locate him and bring him to safety ensued.
However, Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said their investigation revealed Mahlangu lied about the whole incident.
“He was arrested because his statement contradicted statements from witnesses and evidence collected by the task team, which was responsible for investigating the alleged kidnapping.”
When he disappeared last Tuesday Mahlangu, who hails from Mpumalanga, was in town to support striking Walter Sisulu University workers, fighting outsourcing at the university.
On the day of his disappearance Mahlangu was due to attend a workers’ meeting at about 10am at WSU’s Nelson Mandela Drive campus in Mthatha.
He was allegedly kidnapped while on his way there. One of the workers, Monwabisi Nkuzo, later received a WhatsApp message from Mahlangu’s phone telling him to open a case of kidnapping with police.
The message added that Mahlangu was in a dark room but was unsure if he had been arrested or kidnapped.
Nkuzo showed the Daily Dispatch the conversation thread on his phone.
In one message Nkuzo asks Mahlangu where he is. He responds: “I am not sure leader … its dark here … I can’t see … please open a case of potential kidnapping.”
In another he writes: “I am bleeding. I am not at police station … is too dark here … my phones battery will die soon.” — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
‘Kidnapped’ activist appears in court after Hawks arrest
The 33-year-old Mahlangu will appear in court again tomorrow for a formal bail application. He was arrested in East London on Tuesday evening by members of the Hawks.
Mahlangu was in the presence of his two lawyers, one from Johannesburg and another from East London, when he was arrested.
The activist, who is being investigated by members of the Mthatha Organised Crimes Unit, made his first court appearance yesterday.
Charges against Mahlangu, a vocal and fierce opponent of outsourcing activities around South African universities, stem from allegations that he was kidnapped and assaulted while on his way to attend a workers’ meeting at Walter Sisulu University last Tuesday.
A missing person’s file was opened at the Mthatha Police Station and police efforts to locate him and bring him to safety ensued.
However, Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said their investigation revealed Mahlangu lied about the whole incident.
“He was arrested because his statement contradicted statements from witnesses and evidence collected by the task team, which was responsible for investigating the alleged kidnapping.”
When he disappeared last Tuesday Mahlangu, who hails from Mpumalanga, was in town to support striking Walter Sisulu University workers, fighting outsourcing at the university.
On the day of his disappearance Mahlangu was due to attend a workers’ meeting at about 10am at WSU’s Nelson Mandela Drive campus in Mthatha.
He was allegedly kidnapped while on his way there. One of the workers, Monwabisi Nkuzo, later received a WhatsApp message from Mahlangu’s phone telling him to open a case of kidnapping with police.
The message added that Mahlangu was in a dark room but was unsure if he had been arrested or kidnapped.
Nkuzo showed the Daily Dispatch the conversation thread on his phone.
In one message Nkuzo asks Mahlangu where he is. He responds: “I am not sure leader … its dark here … I can’t see … please open a case of potential kidnapping.”
In another he writes: “I am bleeding. I am not at police station … is too dark here … my phones battery will die soon.” — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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