The charges against Dimakatso Modise and her four co-accused - including former speaker, councillor, and office bearers - were withdrawn on Thursday 15 September 2022 at the Theunissen Magistrate’s Court after at least four court appearances since their arrests in May 2022. 

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According to the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) regional spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, the accused made representations to the Senior Prosecutor. The matter was discussed with the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and a decision was taken that the case will be withdrawn after the representations were considered.

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They were facing charges of incitement of violence following the violent protest in the Makeleketla location near Winburg, which led to a house belonging to the parents of the then mayor, Kunatu Stephen Koalane, being set alight by irate protesting residents in 2021.

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The ANC’s Provincial Interim Committee (IPC) in August 2022 told Modise to step aside as the mayor and a member of Lejweleputswa’s Regional Committee. She was asked to step aside as per party policies adopted during the ANC’s 54th Nasrec National Elective Conference in 2017. In leaked audio, Modise is heard informing her comrades that she was asked by the IPC to step aside through a zoom meeting. Her suspension from the party by the IPC comes a few weeks before the ANC in the province head to its Provincial Elective Conference to elect the new leadership.

In 2021, the incident with which Modise was charged, was related to a period between 14 April and 30 June 2021. The ZR Makhabane Road was barricaded with stones and rubbish and municipal offices were set alight. The house of the former mayor was also targeted and vehicles were pelted with stones.

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