Mokonyane denies road rage murder case "interference" claims 17 February 2004 Gauteng Safety and Liaison MEC, Nomvula Mokonyane, has dismissed claims by a Johannesburg newspaper reports that she might have interfered with judicial process by getting involved in the murder case of kwaito star Mafikizolo's Tebogo Madingoane. Madingoane was gunned down over the weekend in a road rage incident in Soweto . "As a public representative and Member of the Executive Council (MEC) responsible for Safety and Security in Gauteng it is my duty to always ensure that perpetrators of cases of all crimes are apprehended and brought before the courts. I also have to make sure that police and members of the public oppose bail in cases involving serious and violent crimes. "I find it very strange that the Democratic Alliance and some people have interpreted this as interference with the judicial process," stresses Mokonyane. Various communities in Gauteng have, on numerous occasions, accused the country's justice system of being lenient to criminals and giving bail without giving due consideration to the feelings of aggrieved parties. The MEC adds: "As a responsible and caring government we have established processes to ensure that criminals find it difficult to get bail, and we also mobilise members of the public throughout the province to support a petition calling for the non-granting of bail to perpetrators of serious and violence crimes." She says in some instances bail is opposed, following a situation analysis by the police, to protect the suspect from being harmed by the angry public community and this has happened in some cases. Regarding the Madingwane incident, Mokonyane says the community including artists have been asked to sign a petition voicing their democratic and legitimate concern that the suspect be refused bail. The petition will then be handed over to the chief prosecutor at Protea Magistrates Court in Soweto . This is part of our civic education programme aimed at mobilising communities to get involved in crime prevention as well as them participating in processes that will make our justice system function better and efficient taking into account concerns raised by the public. The MEC stresses her department will continue to work with the police, communities and affected families to ensure that suspects involved in such case remained in custody, and that during trial the state must secure a conviction with a maximum sentence. For more information contact: Mongezi Mnyani Issued by: Department of Safety and Liaison, Gauteng Provincial Government
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