A Komani resident and activist who is accused of circulating a viral voice note calling for a total shutdown in town has been arrested.
Mncedisi Mbengo, who is also a member of the Komani Protest Action Group on Facebook, was arrested last week for contravening a court order prohibiting him to incite and call upon people to gather unlawfully.
Mbengo's call for a shutdown emanates from President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to Tsomo on Friday as part of the Presidential Imbizo.
The planned engagement will see the President, together with national Ministers, Members of the Provincial Executive Council, Executive Mayors, and Councilors of various municipalities in the Eastern Cape coming together to engage, listen and provide responses in real-time to issues that are of concern to communities.
Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu says Mbengo was released on bail and will be back in court on Friday.
She says the voice note encourages the recipient to continue circulating the call for a total shutdown and mobilisation of people.
The Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene urged communities in Komani and surrounding areas to ignore the voice note.
"Spreading misleading and false information can have consequences. The information must always be verified before sharing it to avoid causing confusion, harm and unnecessary panic. Our goal is to ensure public safety, so I urge the communities to rely on accurate sources and refrain from participating in any stay away" she said.
Mbengo has also been very vocal on Facebook sharing similar messages with his followers.
The Facebook page called Komani Protest Action Group was created on the 31st of July 2023.
