Magistrate's final warning to struggle kids
WINDHOEK SELMA IKELA
A Windhoek magistrate has warned a group of struggle kids appearing in his court that if they do not stop talking during proceedings or he will continue their trial without them.
Magistrate Ivan Gawanab yesterday sternly warned the group not to make a noise in the court.
This is a final warning. If you continue, you will be asked to go outside and we will continue the trial without you. I asked all of you to respect the court, everyone in here. If this court is disrupted, we will clear it and continue without you. No one is allowed to speak. Whoever wants to speak should wait until they are allowed to, Gawanab said.
Before being warned, the group complained about their parents, relatives and fellow struggle kids not being allowed in the court.
It also emerged that only two of the 185 accused have been able to pay the N$500 bail by yesterday morning. The rest of the group claim they cannot afford bail. One of the accused, Lukas Ndakolo, asked for a reduction in the bail amount, which was rejected by Gawanab.
The struggle kids also repeated their claims that they are starving at Dordabis Police Station, where some of them are being kept. A group member also complained that since they have to be in court almost every day, they are missing out on hospital treatment.
The magistrate ruled that a police officer be assigned to look into the allegations of a lack of food Dordabis Police Station.
Meanwhile, the court proceeding resumed yesterday with the cross-examination of Katutura Police Station Commander, Chief Inspector Ismael Basson.
One of the accused, Josua Joseph, Basson why he prohibited the group from entering the Swapo headquarters after they were released on warning from court following a previous arrest. Basson responded that the group did not have permission to enter the offices.
Joseph asked whether people in fact needed permission to enter the building.
Basson responded that they wanted to enter the Swapo headquarters at about 20:00.
Joseph was adamant that the struggle kids do not need permission to enter the Swapo headquarters, as their parents had shed blood for the ruling party during the liberation struggle.
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