Rape accused fail to sign plea agreement
happy with the postponement as they said they were ready to proceed. They wanted to conduct their own defence.
“In view of the developments, trial cannot resume today. The court is congested and the case will be postponed for legal representation,” Griffiths said.
“The court cannot proceed as there is a trial that is going on this week. We have to postpone it for another week.”
Griffiths said the prosecutor, Advocate Chantel Govender, had to arrange a legal aid representative as soon as possible.
“When they [Siyeka and Vuba] get a legal representative then we can speak on whether they can get bail or not,” he said. Govender said there was a conflict between the two accused and their lawyer and Legal Aid would organise another legal representative for them. The two were remanded in custody.
NPA regional spokesman Luxolo Tyali said the case was due for sentencing, however, the accused had changed their minds and decided not to enter into a plea with the state.
He said the two accused were about to sign their guilty plea agreement yesterday.
“Because of the violence [in Cacadu] the case could not sit on Monday. It was postponed for today in order for it to be finalised,” he said.
“The problem started when they were about to sign the plea and that is when they said they will not do that and their legal representative withdrew.”