Cops want video of Zuma's hecklers

POLICE probing the disruption of a memorial lecture by President Jacob Zuma in February hope to find video footage of the incident, the Cape Town Magistrate's Court heard yesterday.

Magistrate Menzi Tyulu told Sibusiso Nkomiyahlaba of Crossroads and Siviwe Gxothiwe of Khayelitsha to appear in court again on May 10 this year.

They face charges of public violence after they allegedly participated in the disruption of Zuma's speech at the Good Hope Centre, near the Cape Town CBD, on the night of February 23.

Gxothiwe, 27, and Nkomiyahlaba, 25, were arrested after Zuma was heckled because they were believed to be the ring leaders of the ensuing commotion.

In the chaos, fist-fights broke out and chairs were thrown. One of those injured in the ruckus was SABC cameraman Rudi le Roux, who had to have stitches to his left eye.

At the men's first appearance on February 27, the court set their bail at R500 each.

Indications were that they would eventually go on trial in the regional court, where the maximum sentencing jurisdiction is 20 years per specific offence, as opposed to three years in the district court.

At the time of the incident, the ANC condemned the conduct of the "senseless thugs", saying an investigation would follow.

The ANC Youth League denied that any of its members were involved, claiming ANC members in the Western Cape were responsible.

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