Zoo cruelty case postponed

THE animal cruelty case against East London Zoo manager Alison Roux was yesterday postponed in the magistrate’s court for medical records.

Roux, 52, appeared in the East London Magistrate’s Court together with another zoo employee, Kerotse Mosebetsi, 38.

State prosecutor Nomawethu Madolwana told presiding magistrate Kevin von Bratt that the state was still waiting for medical records of the animals Roux is charged with abusing. The state is also still waiting for an additional statement from a witness.

The prosecutor requested a month-long postponement.

Von Bratt postponed the matter to November 21.

● In a separate matter, the case against three East London Magistrate’s Court orderlies accused of helping an awaiting-trial police detective to escape was again postponed yesterday.

Captain Zithulele Mrwebo, 57, Constable Caroline Cummings, 39 and Constable Thando Jojozi were arrested last month for allegedly aiding Aliwal North detective constable Romeo Sarin Oerson, who was in custody for attempted murder. He was later re-arrested. Prosecutor Madolwana told magistrate Von Bratt the state was waiting for video footage of the escape and a statement from a witness. The case was postponed to November 23.

● The case against a motorist accused of killing final-year University of Fort Hare student Khayalethu Manyana, 27, in a hit-andrun accident last month was also postponed in the East London Magistrate Court.

The accused, Lukhanyiso Mapango, 34, appeared in court charged with culpable homicide.

Madolwana told Von Bratt that the state was still waiting for a sketch from the scene of the crime and an additional statement from a witness. The case was postponed to November 30.

Mapango’s bail was extended. —