Less than two weeks after he was cleared of kidnapping charges and released from jail, Phikisile Demele has been locked up again, this time on charges of assault.
Demele (35), Siyazi Ngojo (24) and 29-year-old Sabelo Mancam were released on 13 February after kidnapping charges against them were withdrawn due to lack of evidence.
Less than two weeks after he was cleared of kidnapping charges and released from jail, Phikisile Demele has been locked up again, this time on charges of assault.
Demele (35), Siyazi Ngojo (24) and 29-year-old Sabelo Mancam were released on 13 February after kidnapping charges against them were withdrawn due to lack of evidence.
They had been accused of kidnapping 23-year-old Ntomboxolo “Lele” Bashe. The young mother went missing on 3 December last year after leaving her Extension 7 home to run an errand for her mother.
Police spokesperson, Inspector Milanda Coetzer told Grocott’s Mail last week that the police are still conducting searches and that Bashe’s photograph and details have been forwarded to the Missing Person’s Bureau.
Demele, whose shack in Extension 7 was burned down by angry residents two days after Bashe went missing, tried in vain to remain in jail as long as possible because he feared for his life. He had even abandoned his bail application. However, less than two weeks after his release, Demele has been arrested for stabbing a woman in Extension 7.
He appeared in the Grahamstown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on a charge of assault “with intent to cause grievous bodily harm” and was denied bail by magistrate Nishani Beharie.
The magistrate said “it would not be in the interests of justice” to release Demele. But she cautioned the defence to bring the case back to court for reconsideration so that it may be resolved as quickly as possible.
The case has been postponed until 11 March so that further investigation can take place. Meanwhile, Mancam, who was attacked by Transit Camp residents after his release, was discharged from hospital last week.
Grocott’s learned that Mancam sustained serious injuries and is currently in a wheelchair. He is staying at his sister’s house in Vukani.
Ngojo has not had a brush with the law since his release.
