A well-known Rhodes University student made his first court appearance today, 12 October, in the Magistrate’s Court in connection with a body recovered from a Grahamstown dam last week. Police described the death as a gruesome murder.
A well-known Rhodes University student made his first court appearance today, 12 October, in the Magistrate’s Court in connection with a body recovered from a Grahamstown dam last week. Police described the death as a gruesome murder.
Thembani “Zion Eyes” Onceya was the fifth suspect to be arrested in connection with the murder of Extension 6 resident Thembelani Qwakanisa, 29, whose body was recovered from Zion Dam in Extension 6 last Wednesday.
Onceya is a Rhodes University student who has been actively involved in issues affecting students on the campus, as well as with broader national and international social causes.
Police confirmed on Monday 10 October that Onceya, well known for his role as an activist and a performance poet, both on and off campus, had handed himself over after it emerged he was being sought in connection with the murder.
Before he started his studies at Rhodes in 2014, Onceya was a citizen journalist regularly contributing on a freelance basis to Grocott’s Mail.
Appearing in court today in a black hoodie, Onceya appeared relaxed and chatted to supporters and friends.
Addressing them, Onceya said he didn’t understand how he had been implicated in a murder case.
He told them he would be transported to the Waainek prison after his court appearance. He said he would meet there with his co-accused and ask them to clear him of any involvement in the case.
He said he had gone to the police station to find out why he had been linked to the case and was arrested on his arrival.
Appearing before magistrate Ntsoki Moni, Onceya told the court that he had no previous convictions or pending cases.
Moni warned Onceya that if he intentionally misled the court about any previous convictions or pending cases against him, he could face a fine of up to R40 000 or two years imprisonment.
The case was postponed to next week for a formal bail application. Onceya will remain in custody until he appears alongside his four co-accused on Monday, 17 October.
His co-accused are Akhona Onceya and Simakele Onceya, Siviwe Gqotholo and Mzwanele Maki. All four made a brief first appearance at the magistrate’s court on Monday 10 October.
They too were remanded in custody until Monday 17 October for a formal bail application. All the suspects applied for legal representation from state attorneys.
Of the five arrested, only Maki declared in court that he had previous convictions. He told Moni that he had been convicted of stock theft and assault.
Sources close to the case alleged Qwakanisa was tortured severely and at length before dying. They told Grocott’s Mail that the 29-year-old man had been accused of stealing a laptop.
Qwakanisa was allegedly detained in the back room of a house in Extension 9 and tortured in an attempt to get him to reveal the location of the laptop. His body was dumped in Zion Dam.
Rhodes University spokesperson Catherine Deiner said the institution could not comment on what steps the university would take until the university was fully conversant with the facts of the case.
Responding to questions about the matter Deiner said the university does not prejudge matters and would assess the situation once it had apprised itself of all of the facts.
“Mr Onceya is innocent until proven guilty and the University respects the due process of the Court.”
Deiner confirmed to Grocott’s Mail that Onceya is a registered Bachelor of Arts student at Rhodes University. “He is in his third year of study,” Deiner said.
Unemployed People’s Movement (UPM) member Ayanda Kota, who was in court when Onceya appeared, said Onceya was the organisation’s former secretary.
“He was secretary from 2014 to 2016 and is still our member,” Kota said. Kota said they were devastated by what had happened and that they were going through an emotional rollercoaster.
“We stand on the principle that he is innocent until proven guilty. We have to put our trust in the justice system,” he said.
Kota refused to divulge any details of conversations between himself and Onceya.
“I have spoken to him [since his arrest]but that is between me and him.”
He said he heard about the incident on Sunday, 9 October. Kota said their prayers were with the family of the deceased.
“We don’t think there is any person who has to die in that manner. And having said that we offer our critical support to our comrade, Comrade Zion [Onceya’s nickname].
“We stand on the principle that he is innocent until proven guilty. The post-mortem would be available on Monday and to really extensively comment on this would be premature.
“There could be a very serious turn of events and so you don’t want to be forced to eat humble pie,” he said.
Qwakanisa’s body was discovered wrapped in a carpet in Zion Dam and was recovered by police divers on Wednesday, 5 October.
On Monday a group of residents from various areas in Joza marched from Extension 9 to the magistrate's court to demonstrate their opposition to bail being granted to the four suspects who were appearing that morning.
anele@grocotts.co.za
