Judge demands answers as rhino case drags on
MORE than a decade ago, Limpopo game farmer Dawie Groenewald and his co-accused were arrested on a multitude of rhino poaching-related charges, yet their criminal trial is yet to start – and a judge wants answers.
Groenewald and his eight co-accused once again briefly appeared in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria this week and their case was postponed to March 1.
But this is only to pave the way forward, and it is expected that the trial will not go ahead on this date.
Judge Bert Bam made it clear this week that he wanted answers as to why the trial had been delayed for so long: “This case has been dragging its heels for very long. I want to know what the delays are and what is going to be done to streamline the process,” the judge said.
He demanded a detailed affidavit from the defence team, setting out what caused the delays. “I want a detailed account of what happened. I have no idea what is going on and it is very peculiar that this case is not moving forward. If I find that anyone has delayed this matter on purpose, I will consider making an appropriate order in that regard,” Judge Bam said.
Groenewald, alleged to be the rhino horn syndicate kingpin, and his co-accused, who include a helicopter pilot, two veterinarians and professional hunters, have appeared in court on several occasions over the years, during which their trial was postponed.
One of the delays was caused as the group were awaiting a Constitutional Court ruling confirming the lifting of South Africa's moratorium on domestic trade in rhino horn.
This resulted in the state dropping about 60 charges against the accused, and an amended charge sheet was subsequently served on the group earlier.
They are, however, still facing about 1 600 charges, ranging from racketeering, money laundering, illegal hunting of rhino to dealing in rhino horn.
One of the new glitches at the start of the hearing was the fact that advocate Piet van Wyk SC, who had been representing them over the years, passed away last year due to Covid19. A new legal team took over the defence, headed by advocate Jaap Cilliers SC and his team.
CHRISTCHURCH: This week, the head of New Zealand’s Maori Party, Rawiri Waititi, donned what he dubbed Maori business attire – a necklace with a large ornament, called a hei tiki – and went about his day.
That act set him on a collision course with the rules and led to his expulsion from the chamber.
New Zealand, until yesterday, required male legislators to wear ties in Parliament. After Waititi rose to speak without the requisite neckwear, House Speaker Trevor Mallard ejected him.
“It’s not about ties. It’s about cultural identity, mate,” Waititi said as he walked out of the chamber.
By yesterday, Mallard announced that following further consultation, he was scrapping the rule.
Waititi has called ties “a colonial noose”. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday urged New Zealand politicians to focus on issues other than attire, saying: “I don’t think New Zealanders care about ties.”