GIYANI – The Giyani Magistrate’s Court this week withdrew all charges of fraud against an independent journalist, Mr Kaizer Nengovhela.

Nengovhela was arrested on October 17 during a match between Dynamos and Orlando Pirates at the Giyani Stadium by officials of the PSL and Dynamos, on allegations that he was selling tickets outside the stadium. He was detained in the Giyani police holding cells until he briefly appeared in court on October 19. He was released and the case was postponed to November 3 for further investigation.

On November 3, the case was withdrawn, without any explanation from the state.

“I want to put the record straight that I was not selling the tickets. The people wrongly accused me,” Nen-govhela said. “The whole saga started when an educator at Lemana High, Mr Jimmy Miyeni, asked me if I was in possession of a press card that would allow me to get in and out the stadium without any hassle. He added that he wanted me to go out of the stadium and give four SAB complimentary tickets to his brother and friends. As I was looking for his brother in the long queue, one of the fans saw the tickets and asked me why they were different from those that are sold at the ticket booths. Then a member of the PSL security came and forced me to go inside the stadium, where they accused me of selling the complimentary tickets,” he said.

In an effort to clear his name, Nengovhela produced his PSL press card which, according to him, was also grabbed by the PSL security guard. He added that when the Dynamos boss, Mr Pat Malabela, came, he gave the security officials an order to hand Nengovhela over to the local SAPS. “I also find it strange when the police told me that they could not take my statement, as there were no police detectives. It was, however, taken on Monday afternoon. What happened to me is bad, because not only my credibility and integrity were affected, but it affects my colleagues and the companies to which I am selling news,” he added.

According to him, he expects a formal apology from Dynamos “in order to harmonise our relationship, but if they fail I will decide how to take this issue further. Life in prison is hell. The two days I was detained were like a decade to me! I feel that one cannot leave this matter so easily,” he said.

Mr Miyeni claimed that it was not the first time that he witnessed the security at the Giyani Stadium victimising individuals. “What happened clearly reveals how badly they handle their affairs, but I am happy because the court of law realised that the reporter was innocent,” he said.

The MD of Dynamos, Mr Pat Malabela, told Mirror that he could not comment, since Nengovhela had been arrested by the PSL security. “Phone Trevor Phillips, as the man was arrested by the PSL security. I do not see any need for me to apologise for what had happened. I am wishing your newspaper good luck to grow big.”