More delays in Bozwana murder trial

THE Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, yesterday said it was ready to hear final arguments in the trial of controversial Mamelodi businessman Vusi “Khekhe” Mathibela and his three accused, who stand accused of murdering billionaire Wandile Bozwana.

However, the proceedings were once again delayed, this time because one of the lawyers fell ill.

Judge Papi Mosopa said he had postponed other cases to pave the way for this trial to go ahead so that it could, after several years in the court, finally come to a conclusion.

Mathibela and Sipho Hudla, Matamela Robert Mutapa and Bonginkosi Paul Khumalo are facing a charge of murder following the assassination of businessman Bozwana in 2015 as well as the attempted murder of his business partner, Mpho Baloyi.

The trial kicked off in the high court in 2017 and is due to be concluded soon after all the accused had closed their cases without testifying in their defence.

Counsel for Hudla and Mutapa, however, fell ill over the weekend and was unable to attend court yesterday. Prosecutor Jennifer Cronje said she was ready to present her final legal arguments, while Mathibela's advocate Gerhard Botha said he too was ready to present his arguments.

He told the court that his client was especially being prejudiced by the slow pace of the proceedings, as he is in custody.

Cronje complained to the judge that she was only told yesterday morning that lawyer Anneline van den Heever was not well and would not be able to attend the proceedings.

The trial was postponed to June 3, when it is expected that final arguments will be delivered.