Ngizwe Mchunu trial started today at the Randburg Magistrates Court but he pleaded not guilty. He is charged with incitement to cause public violence, contravention of the lockdown regulations and convening a gathering during lockdown. Mchunu claims all these charges were lies and denied knowing anything about them. Mchunu's plea statement was read to the court by his defence Vusi Khathi: "I have heard and understood the charges explained by my lawyer and plead not guilty to all. I'm a radio DJ, poet, cultural activist and TV personality. In 2020, I established my online radio. On 11 July 2020, I sent invitations to journalists to discuss current affairs and that was during the time of Zuma's arrest."

FATHER FIGURE

Mchunu allegedly held a briefing at a hotel in Bryanston to show concerns over Zuma's arrest. "He is my neighbour and I regard him as a father in my African culture.I raised my disappointment over his arrest, but didn't condone any violence.I pleaded with fellow Africans to stop destroying infrastructure.I begged my brothers and sisters, not to  destroy our country. I didn't incite any violence, and I travelled to Gauteng for work purposes because I had a permit to  work during the lockdown."

MEETING WERE HELD AROUND THE COUNTRY

The first witness to take the stand was Colonel Mxolisi Edwin Nama from the Provincial Search and Organised Crime Detectives. He told the court that he is the complainant on the matter.Nana said after the Constitutional Court ordered that former President Jacob Zuma be arrested for 15 months an uprising loomed. "Meetings were held, there was an uprising in Gauteng and KZN. Part of those uprising were characterised by looting of businesses, burning of trucks on the road. It was a state of pandemonium. The situation led police to be on high alert."Nama said the situation was uncontrollable.He claims that meetings took place in all parts of Gauteng, including Kwa-Mai Mai.

ZUMA HAS HUGE FOLLOWING 

The defence argued that the evidence by the witness was hearsay, unless the state calls a witness who tipped him off. "Apart  from getting it from our internal crime intelligence, I also got it from YouTube. I also saw a crowd that had gathered KwaMai Mai. A lady was heard repeatedly saying "KwaMai Mai situation right now". The video was in the public domain. It is available,"said Nama. The defence said they didn't know who took the video and are concerned about the authenticity of the video since technology can be tampered with."
Nama continued to say, "To encourage people to fight was an incitement or encouragement of the people to show their discontent using fighting. Zuma has a large following, if you speak in support of him, the majority of his followers are bound to give an ear to understand what you say and agree with you." Nama will continue with his testimony on Wednesday.