EFF PR councilor in Alexandra Moshe Mphahlele (35) has been released from police custody on a free bail.
He was arrested on Monday following a scuffle at the Alexandra police station. Mphahlele appeared before the Alexandra Magistrates’ court on charges of intimidation, assault, public violence and interfering with police work. Alexandra police spokesperson Sergeant Simphiwe Mbatha confirmed the arrest.
“The suspect, together with a group of residents, stormed our police station on Sunday afternoon demanding the release of a suspect accused of rape.” However, this is contrary to the version of events according to councilor Mphahlele.
During an interview with Alex Reporter after his release this afternoon he claimed he didn’t know why he was arrested.
“We had brought the suspected rapist to the police station to be arrested, however the officers did not arrest him, instead he was told to sit down in the charge office. We then asked why he was not arrested. Then an argument broke out between officers and the angry residents,” he alleged.
Mphahlele said he was pepper sprayed during the scuffle.
“One officer threatened to strike the residents with a chair and then one of the residents poured water onto the officers and we got pepper sprayed.”
Mphahlele dismissed claims that his arrest was politically motivated. The case has been postponed to 18 November.
The suspect who was beaten up during the citizen arrest is currently under police guard at Tembisa Hospital. He is accused of raping two young women whom he had lured into his tricks after claiming that he is a traditional healer.
By Cliff Shiko (Assignment Editor)
