The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The trade union Solidarity will investigate the possibility of laying a charge of malicious prosecution against Jacob Olebile Monare, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s bodyguard, after the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court withdrew the criminal charges against WO Jannie Odendaal and const Abel Twala. Solidarity also requested that the charges that were previously laid against Madikizela-Mandela and her bodyguards be reinvestigated and that the civil complaint against the police officials also be withdrawn.

Odendaal and Twala came under fire after the vehicle in which Madikizela-Mandela was travelling was pulled off from the M1 North because the driver allegedly recklessly wove through traffic at a high speed on December 30, 2010. In February 2011 they were suspended with salary and benefits pending an internal investigation. According to Dirk Hermann, deputy general secretary of Solidarity, Odendaal en Twala’s charges against Madikizela-Mandela and her bodyguards should be reinvestigated. “Madikizela-Mandela was charged with obstruction of justice while her bodyguard and driver were respectively charged with assault and reckless or negligent driving. However, the National Prosecuting Authority dropped the charges against them last year while Odendaal and Twala were prosecuted.”

Hermann said that Odendaal and Twala appeared in court on numerous occasions, but the case was postponed numerous times because the dossier was not available. “The senior state prosecutor decided today to withdraw the charges of intimidation, assault and the aiming of a firearm. We are now investigating the possibility of charging Monare with malicious prosecution because of the possibility of political interference. The police officials should not have been charged since they were only doing their jobs,” said Hermann.