2010-08-06 10:38
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Cape Town - Sunday Times journalist Mzilikazi Wa Afrika was released from jail on R5000 bail on Friday and his next trial has been set for August the 8th, the TimesLive website reported.
The State's prosecutor, Ansie Venter, is not opposing bail, the website said.
Wa Afrika and his co-accused, known as Victor, were ordered to surrender their passports and to report to their closest police station at 08:00 once a week.
The TimesLives said Wa Afrika told a group of journalists before his court appearance that General Mapiyane, who is second in command in Mpumalanga's crime intelligence, asked why he had written a story claiming that Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza had resigned.
This took place at Wa Afrika's interrogation at 02:00 on Thursday.
"I told him to search on Google to see if he will find such a story. He told me that he didn't like my attitude," Wa Afrika apparently said.
Sunday Times editor Ray Hartley has said several times that the story was never published.
Wa Afrika said another police official, warrant officer Molapo asked him why he was writing about Mpumalanga as there were eight other provinces to write about.
"I asked him if he had a problem with it, and he said yes, he had a serious problem with it."
The website quoted Wa Afrika as saying that his time at the police holding cells was not good.
"The toilet at Waterfall Boven didn't even flush. I told my lawyers I'm not spending one more night there."
- News24
Comments by Sonny
We would like to debrief Wa Afrika on his 24 hours in custody.
Maybe he was offered a position in the spy network?
Or intimidated to his roots!
