Ngizwe Mchunu, the former Ukhozi FM presenter has been denied bail by the court, hence, to be remanded in custody.

Ngizwe, who went into custody after handing himself over to the police on Monday, 19 July, appeared in the Randburg Magistrate’s court on charges of inciting public violence in the ongoing unrest in KwaZulu-Natal, has however been denied bail.

The case has however been adjourned to Wednesday, 28th July for formal bail application, and he’s to remain behind bars till the said date.

While some people believed Ngizwe doesn’t deserve to be in custody because they found him not guilty, there are others who felt the radio presenter and activist incited violence in KZN.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Mthunzi Mhaga says the state believes Mchunu might be a flight risk.

“What is missing is information that will help us. In our opposition of bail there are information that is pointing to him being a flight risk and that information is needed for us to make a determination to what extent are we going to oppose bail against him.

“Evidence that we have relates to utterances that he made during a public press conference that he had. In terms of masterminding it, I am not able to comment at that because there is a wide range of investigations that are conducted which might lead to more charges against him.”

Mhaga adds that the state has a video to prove the charge of incitement of violence.

“We have accessed the video that was recorded, we have had a translator of Zulu, and we are convinced that the words he used amount to the commission of an offence to commit public violence. At the moment, the evidence we have collected is sufficient to prove an offence of incitement to commit public violence.

“That is the only charges he is facing now, but we are analysing the evidence and the video recordings, and we are conducting further investigations with the possibility of adding other changes.”