/ 19 July 2006

Four in court for union leader’s murder

About 700 protesters gathered outside the Oberholzer Magistrate's Court on Wednesday as four people appeared for the murder of National Union of Mineworkers branch chairperson Elias Mulaudzi. The four appeared in the court after their arrest last week, to make a formal bail application.

About 700 protesters gathered outside the Oberholzer Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday as four people appeared for the murder of National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) branch chairperson Elias Mulaudzi.

”We are here to oppose the bail application,” said NUM’s Carletonville regional chairperson Deon Boqwana.

The four appeared in the court after their arrest last week, to make a formal bail application.

However, their lawyers withdrew and the case was postponed to next Tuesday so that new lawyers can be appointed, control prosecutor Elize Smith said.

Mulaudzi, the union’s branch chairperson at nearby Carletonville’s Driefontein gold mine and a town councillor, was murdered while on his way home from work on July 3.

He was shot in the head and chest.

Protesters, many wearing the union’s red T-shirt, carried placards reading: ”Why kill our leader, why”, ”Viva NUM” and ”Elias was the hero of Driefontein”.

Jabulani Ntshangase, Zakhele Mbatha, Siphokuhle Mhlambo and Dan Mkhwanazi will appear again on July 25. – Sapa