Former SAA board member Yakhe Kwinana is due to appear in the East London magistrate’s court next week in connection with a string of charges, including allegations of extortion.
Kwinana, 60, made a brief appearance in the Randburg magistrate’s court on Tuesday after being arrested in Midrand, Gauteng, on Monday.
During her brief appearance the case was transferred to the East London magistrate’s court, where she is due to appear on Monday.
Kwinana remains in custody pending a formal bail application.
She appeared in court without legal representation, saying her lawyer was in East London, and did not object to being filmed during her appearance.
Police spokesperson Major-General Nonkululelo Phokane said Kwinana faced multiple charges of extortion, malicious damage to property and pointing of a firearm.
“The suspect is linked to a series of taxi violence and extortion cases in East London, was [reportedly] always accompanied by armed men when she [allegedly] threatened her victims and extorted money from them.
“The victims’ properties were also allegedly demolished on instruction of the suspect.
“A multidisciplinary team comprising members from the national intervention unit, Gauteng serious and violent crime investigations, tactical response team, and the national traffic anti-corruption unit acted on intelligence, leading to the arrest of the suspect in Midrand,” Phokane said.
During her court appearance, heavily armed police officers stood guard.
“In 2024, the minister of police, Senzo Mchunu, established a national task team to deal decisively with extortion-related crimes.
“Multidisciplinary teams have been deployed to prevent, combat, investigate and arrest those behind incidents of gang violence and extortion in the country,” Phokane said.
She declined to elaborate on the charges, saying “certain details ... are subject of the ongoing investigation”.
The Dispatch reported in 2024 on clashes between Kwinana and land invaders at her farm near the King Phalo Airport.
She ended up “converting” the illegal occupants into tenants while awaiting the Buffalo City Metro’s final decision on whether it would purchase the land.
Kwinana had fenced the property and erected two gates for controlled access and residents were told to make upfront payment arrangements to get access cards or be locked out.
More than 100 households received a message allegedly instructing them to pay outstanding rent of R4,600 for both July and August, when she introduced her access control system, and a penalty of R600.
At the time, Kwinana said the occupants would use the access cards to enter the property.
“The access card will be given to those who have paid for both July and August, plus a penalty of R600, or they can make an arrangement,” she said.
The illegal occupants would then become tenants on her farm.
Daily Dispatch
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