Thembelihle Ngedle, a general worker from Katlehong, who was arrested for allegedly damaging property at his workplace, is planning to sue the state for R9m after the charges were dropped seven months later, reports News24.

Ngedle said he endured two nights in a dangerous prison environment, lost his job, and struggled to provide for his family.

He will be claiming for wrongful arrest and emotional distress.

This after the NPA dropped the charges against Ngedle at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Ngedle was arrested on 26 March and, according to a charge sheet, he was accused of damaging a door at the Cache Centre, a shopping centre in Alberton, where he had worked as a general worker since 2020.

He said the police arrived at his workplace hours after the incident.

Ngedle added that he viewed the footage with the officers, who saw two people trying to damage the CCTV cameras. He said the police later arrested him.

Ngedle said the police claimed they had footage to support their arrest.

‘The case was provisionally withdrawn, pending investigations. The investigating officer has been given instructions on the investigations that need to be attended to,’ NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said.

Ngedle, however, stated he was not told why.

’I need an explanation of why I was arrested and why the charges have been withdrawn. No one has explained anything to me. I even raised my hand in court, asking for clarity, but authorities said I must go home.’

Full News24 report