By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The ANC Women’s League in the North West said it is ‘concerned’ after the arrest of the Head of Special Commercial Crimes Unit in Mahikeng, Advocate Jeanette Neveling on allegations of shoplifting.
Neveling who is responsible for handling high profile cases including the case of fraud against the former North West MEC, Wendy Nelson was arrested for allegedly stealing grocery items and clothes at a Woolworths store at The Crossing Shopping complex in Mahikeng on Tuesday afternoon.
Now, the ANCWL acting provincial secretary, Bitsa Lenkopane said the charges levelled against the supposed law pigeon has left eyebrows rigidly raised and they wonder if this is not a fool at forty.
“With this development, the league notes that the next court appearance of Nelson is on Monday. We, however, get more worried after the reports of this arrest and release on bail of Neveling, who is also a leading figure of prosecution in Nelson’s case.
“While the league understands a principle of innocent until proven otherwise, Nelson has been made to suffer by the external incidents which are not directly related to her case,” she said.
Lenkopane added that their conviction is that the delay in Nelson’s court case would deny her justice due to Neveling’s arrest. She said the arrest of Neveling creates doubts on the credibility of the NPA including the charges formulated against Nelson.
“The league has always raised a concern on the domination of factional tendencies of interference by some said to be politicians in the province, which leads to the disadvantage of women and the minority like Nelson.
“Our concerns have been witnessed in the mishandling of Nelson and ill-treatment to her prosecution formulated by a person with questionable integrity, leaving us asking if it is really fair or is it not a political influence by common factional tendencies in the province,” said Lenkopane.
She further said the ANCWL members will be in attendance of the next court appearance of Nelson to support her entirely, and expressing their dissatisfaction with how NPA issues are processed.
Meanwhile, the NPA regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said: “The NPA confirms that indeed Neveling was arrested and charged for shoplifting. We are currently studying the docket to make a determination on whether the matter warrants prosecution.”
Neveling was granted bail without a court appearance or the next court date.
The embattled Nelson who is out on R20 000 bail, was arrested by the Hawks’ Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation unit for the alleged irregular appointment of a senior official in the province.
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