The Orlando Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday refused to soften bail conditions for five people accused of stealing jewellery valued at R4-million from the home of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
The five made a brief court appearance. Four of those in the dock were family members of the struggle stalwart.
Paul Githuka, husband of Madikizela-Mandela’s niece, Nolwazi, told the court the bail conditions had been very hard on the family. He, his wife, his daughter Jerry and son Mpumelelo, and Mbuso Vutela were all in the dock.
”The bail conditions are hurting our family,” said Githuka, adding that the family includes a mother who is breastfeeding a baby. ”And we have no stable economic income.”
Regional magistrate Mohammed Jooma replied: ”No, sir, I am not going to change the bail conditions. They will stay as they are.”
Outside the court, Githuka said the family has to spend R32 a day travelling from Diepkloof to Orlando, both in Soweto, to report to police. He said he is a freelance tour guide and has only had sporadic work since his arrest.
The case was postponed to May 10 for further investigation.
An earlier hearing heard that the five had been severely beaten during police investigations.
Madikizela-Mandela returned from the United States in February to discover that two safes at her home had been stolen and a third tampered with.
Nolwazi Githuka confirmed to the South African Press Association outside the court that she was indeed one of Madikizela-Mandela’s family members. ”She is my late mother’s younger sister.”
There had been confusion over the exact link between Madikizela-Mandela and the accused in media reports. — Sapa