Three back in court over RDP car stone throwing

THREE men who are accused of having violently tried to prevent the announcement of a Rally for Democracy and Progress meeting in Windhoek in July made a second court appearance on five charges in connection with the incident yesterday.

With their latest appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura, the case against Windhoek residents Samuel Abed, Lucas Alfeus Uutoni and Andreas Leonard was postponed for a second time for further investigations to be carried out by the Police. Magistrate Tuyenikelao Haikango told the three to appear in court again on January 29.They remain free on bail of N$1 500 each.They are facing two counts of malicious damage to property and three charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm in connection with a stone-throwing incident that took place as a vehicle with loudspeakers mounted on it was driven through the Oshitenda area of Okuryangava on July 11 to announce an RDP meeting.Two vehicles’ windows were smashed when they were allegedly pelted with stones.It was reported at the time that the arm of an RDP organiser, Sylvanus Reinhold, was broken when he was struck by a stone, while another RDP member, Sackey Amenya, suffered cuts and bruises.The incident took place about two months after Swapo and RDP supporters clashed in an area of Windhoek that the Swapo supporters were claiming to be a gathering place for Swapo members exclusively.A similar clash again took place at Oshitenda this past weekend, when the Police resorted to using teargas to disperse a crowd of Swapo supporters, some of whom were carrying firearms, who were intent on stopping an RDP meeting from taking place in their area.Magistrate Tuyenikelao Haikango told the three to appear in court again on January 29.They remain free on bail of N$1 500 each.They are facing two counts of malicious damage to property and three charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm in connection with a stone-throwing incident that took place as a vehicle with loudspeakers mounted on it was driven through the Oshitenda area of Okuryangava on July 11 to announce an RDP meeting.Two vehicles’ windows were smashed when they were allegedly pelted with stones.It was reported at the time that the arm of an RDP organiser, Sylvanus Reinhold, was broken when he was struck by a stone, while another RDP member, Sackey Amenya, suffered cuts and bruises.The incident took place about two months after Swapo and RDP supporters clashed in an area of Windhoek that the Swapo supporters were claiming to be a gathering place for Swapo members exclusively.A similar clash again took place at Oshitenda this past weekend, when the Police resorted to using teargas to disperse a crowd of Swapo supporters, some of whom were carrying firearms, who were intent on stopping an RDP meeting from taking place in their area.