Forty villagers from Mhinga and Mhingavile, half of them women, who have been charged with public violence and malicious damage to property following the disappearance of a 11-year-old boy, were given bail at the Malamulele Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The magistrate, Busi Nkosi, released the 35 on their one recognisance and set strict conditions, saying they were released on condition that they do not take part in public meetings until their case has been finalised. Nkosi granted five of the accused bail of R1 000 each.

They are Samuel Hlengani Chauke (57), Thomas Hlongwani (45), Risimati Thomas Maluleke (64), Clifford Mzamani Maluleke (33) and Freddie Mzamani Shibambu (42). They were also ordered not to attend public meetings until their case has been finalised.

Members of the community staged demonstartions, denouncing the police at Saselamani police station.

Community members had been ferried by buses, trucks and vans to the police station.

Altogether 71 people were arrested. One woman was released on bail because of ill health.

They also presented a memorandum of their grievances to the station commander of Malamulele police station, which is to be submitted to the MEC for Safety and Security in Limpopo, Samson Ndou.

Meanwhile, community members from Xikundu also came to join the march by the people of Mhinga. They also felt the police at Saselamani were not competent.

This is a sequel to the incident which happened at the village on March 5 when a man who had gone to the bush with young Lucky Ndobe (11) to shoot birds with a catapult came back with the boy’s clothes and shoes, saying the boy had been eaten by crocodiles.

The community rejected his story and said they believed that the boy had been killed for muti.

Community members toyi-toyied outside the Malamulele magistrate’s court premises, brandishing placards casting aspersions on the police at Malamulele police station.

Local ward councilor Peter Shirinda said he was satisfied with the granting of bail. He said he did not mind the conditions attached to their release. "When they were arrested, we held meetings without them. Now that they have been released on bail under certain conditions, we will still hold meetings without them," said Shirinda.

He added that the community would not focus on searching for the boy. It is believed that the man who was being held by the police for his own protection after the community got agitated against him has been released and has gone into hiding.

Shirinda called on those with information about the missing boy’s whereabouts to come forward.