Video still (BCM)
The South African Police Service said it would investigate the “questionable” circumstances surrounding Tuesday's events at the East London police station and the magistrate’s court.
National police issued the statement after Eastern Cape businessman and taxi boss Simphiwe ‘Gabs’ Mtshala wanted to surrender to authorities.
He was arrested last week, but charges that included extortion were withdrawn against him.
Mtshala's attempt to hand himself over to the authorities follows the court appearance on Monday of 60-year-old former SAA board member Ntombiyakhe Kwinana, who faces extortion and other charges.
She was arrested in Gauteng last week and appeared in court in Midrand before the matter was transferred to East London.
Members of the Melta taxi association disrupted traffic in several parts of the Buffalo City Metro.
They said authorities were “persecuting” Mtshala, a security company owner who, according to the Daily Dispatch, had provided security services to Kwinana during a “standoff with illegal land occupiers” on her farm.
National police spokesperson, Major General Nonkululeko Phokane, said the “police did not execute any arrest", and Mtshala was therefore not supposed to be in court.
She said last week the matter involving the “same suspect” was withdrawn in the East London magistrate court, adding that the SAPS was on record stating that the case's merit was solid and the investigation team was processing matters of court interest.
“The reasons that led to the suspect handing himself over to the police station and court, respectively, are unknown to the police.
“Court matters are critical and must be handled with the confidentiality it deserves.
“The police will further probe the questionable circumstances that led to today’s proceedings,” General Phokane said.
She said the investigation is led by the national task team of experts, which is tasked with focusing specifically on taxi-related and extortion-related matters in the Eastern Cape and other provinces.
Phokane noted that the team has a record of success in different provinces on high-profile cases.
