By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Supporters of Operation Dudula gathered outside the Roodepoort magistrate’s court on March 25 2022, where leader Nhlanhla Lux Dlamini was expected to appear.
Operation Dudula leader Nhlanhla ‘Lux’ Dlamini’s bail application will be heard on Monday, meaning he will remain in custody over the weekend.
He was arrested on Thursday afternoon following a case that was opened by Soweto resident Victor Ramerafe, whose home was ransacked by Operation Dudula members on Sunday.
He faces charges of housebreaking, theft and malicious damage to property.
Operation Dudula secretary-general Zandile Dabula addressed scores of the movement’s members outside court, telling them that Dlamini was not appearing as the matter had been postponed to Monday.
Lux’s lawyer, advocate Ike Khumalo, believed his arrest was politically motivated.
Khumalo said police told him that Lux would be detained at Johannesburg Central police station and not at Dobsonville, where the case was reported.
He, said they were ready to proceed but the state had requested 48 hours to gather more evidence.
“We were expecting to proceed with a bail application but the investigating officer said that will not be so because they are going to take their 48 hours grace period — they still want to investigate further and check the statements of witnesses, probably do an ID parade and maybe add charges,” he said.
Khumalo said Dlamini appealed for calm among his supporters.