Elisha Molefe

Elisha Molefe

An 18-year-old matric candidate who was arrested during an illegal march this week was temporarily released by police yesterday to write his final exam paper.

Karabo Mogatwe of Bodibe Village near Itsoseng in North West was among 22 youths who were arrested and charged with illegal gathering and public violence on Tuesday.

This was during a protest organised by Bodibe Youth Council against the sale of their ancestral land to a cement company.

The youth's sister, Tebogo, said Itsoseng police would not release him. She was worried that he would miss sitting for his History paper which was the last for the year.

Bodibeng Tribal Council member Paper Mofokeng said villagers were told by the tribal authority on Sunday that the land that they had been living on since 1932 was bought by a company that had been mining lime on the outskirts of the village for the past 18 years.

"The villagers wanted to know why they were not consulted, and who had sold the land because the chief denies that he was involved," said Mofokeng.

"I am not concerned about politics. I am only worried about the future of my brother," said Mogatwe.

She told Sowetan that they were living with their unemployed parents and could not raise the R300 bail the station commissioner had set.

Police agreed to release Karabo on his own cognisance to allow him to write the paper on condition he gave himself up afterwards.

He will appear in the local court with the other 21 soon.