Mokwena still to appear for bail
Police request more time to obtain a detailed profile
Prominent Limpopo lawyer Tumi Mokwena, who has been accused of attempted murder, is expected to make his formal bail application in the Thabamoopo Magistrate’s Court in Lebowakgomo tomorrow.
Mokwena was arrested at his Polokwane office on Thursday after a shooting that left four workers on Zebediela Citrus Estate wounded. According to police reports, one firearm was seized during the arrest.
On Friday, Mokwena, wearing a blue sweater, walked into court with his ankles in chains. Mokwena stood up in the dock, requesting the chains be removed. “I shouldn’t be in leg chains when I appear before this court. It is very inhumane,” he said.
An officer in the courtroom removed the chains from Mokwena’s ankles, following instructions from the magistrate.
Mokwena’s defence team wanted the bail proceedings to go ahead on Friday, but the state made an application to have the case postponed on the grounds they did not have a proper profile.
Prosecutor Solly Ngobeni said the court would not be able to make an informed decision on Mokwena’s bail application without a profile, as it contained crucial information.
Only three out of the four victims are still in hospital.
Ngobeni said the police did not have enough time to obtain a detailed profile on Mokwena due to the fact that he was arrested in the evening.
Ngobeni further argued that a postponement was in order as the charges against Mokwena might change from four counts of attempted murder, since one of the victims was in a very critical condition.
Mokwena’s lawyer Naledi Mothapo said it would not be in the interests of justice to delay the bail proceedings based on an assumption that one of the victims might die.
Mothapo also argued the defence would be able to furnish the court with Mokwena’s personal information.
She said the court also had the recourse of revoking Mokwena’s bail at a later stage should he be found to have lied about his personal details under oath.
But the presiding magistrate granted the postponement to give police enough time to obtain the profile.
She said Mokwena’s formal bail application could go on for more than one day should the state decide to oppose bail.
Farm workers in red union T-shirts outside court were calling for bail to be denied.
The incident was apparently sparked by disagreements between Mokwena and the workers over alleged illegal salary deductions.