28 May 2001 The South African Communist Party (SACP) reiterates its call for the dropping of all charges against Comrade Charlie Maduna, the Deputy Secretary of the SACP Newcastle District. He appeared in the Newcastle Magistrate's Court today following his arrest on Saturday, 26 May after a clash with the police at the funeral of the eldest son of the Msimango family in the Doornpoort farm in Dannhauser (Newcastle).
The farm owner, Manus Geldenhuys, unfairly and unreasonably refused the Msimango family the right to bury their eldest son. Typical of the relationship between farmers and the police in Newcastle, Geldenhuys was able to contact the police so that they could attempt to stop the funeral the most insensitive and inhuman acts they could mete out to the Msimango family.
Comrade Maduna is charged with contempt of court apparently because Geldenhuys had obtained a court interdict against the Msimango family. This interdict was, however, not handed over to the Msimango family.
The case has now been postponed to 08 June.
The SACP further calls on all farm-workers and residents of Dannhauser and Greater Newcastle to support Comrade Maduna by picketing the Newcastle Magistrate's Court on 08 June. This case, once more highlights racism and police brutality in the Newcastle District. In this regard, the Newcastle District of the SACP led a march on 27 April and submitted demands to the police and local government for action to stop racism and police brutality.
For these reasons, the SACP will also sustain the mobilisation of farm-workers and residents of Dannhauser and Greater Newcastle and allied organisations to continue the fight against racism and police brutality in Newcastle and to specifically anticipate and block any harassment and retaliatory action by Geldenhuys against the Msimango family.
CONTACT
Smiso Nkwanyana
SACP KwaZulu Natal Provincial Secretary
Cell: 082 468 7184
OR
Mazibuko K. Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information and Publicity South African Communist Party
Tel: 011 339 3621
Fax: 011 339 4244
Email:sacp1@wn.apc.org
Cell: 082 886 3528