IN A dramatic twist in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court yesterday, charges were withdrawn against a fifth man arrested for allegedly plotting to kill President Jacob Zuma and other senior ANC leaders during the party's elective conference in Mangaung in December.

Louis Lategan, 31, was a free man after spending a week in police custody following his arrest on charges of high treason and conspiracy to engage in terrorist activities. He had been expected to join Martin Trollip, John Martin Keevy, Johan Hendrik Prinsloo, and Hein Boonzaaier in the dock.

Lategan's lawyer, Pieter Schuurman, had prepared his formal bail application and bail had been agreed between him and the state. Magistrate Nozuko Mviko ordered Schuurman to prepare an affidavit as she would not accept a verbal statement as part of the bail application.

After an adjournment, prosecutor Jan Botha told the court that charges against Lategan had been withdrawn. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping said the withdrawal was a"prosecutorial strategy".