THE EFF in the Vhembe region of Limpopo has expressed concern over the alleged incompetence and negligence of Thohoyandou's public prosecutors.
They criticised the handling of cases related to gender-based violence and femicide involving high-profile figures in Vhembe.
EFF Vhembe chairman, Advocate Patrick Matodzi highlighted the extended delays in delivering justice for several gender-based violence and femicide cases including rape, murder, kidnapping and sexual assault.
The party highlighted cases involving well-known individuals. These include the case of comedian, Livhuwani (SABC Livhu) Madadzhe who is accused of murdering his wife, Judas Munyai who is accused of shooting and killing Thohoyandou lawyer Mmbambadzeni James Manwadu and Mashudu Bele who is accused of murder, kidnapping and rape.
"Injustice is easily accessible through incompetency and undue interference and the perpetrators walk freely in our streets and get away with murder, becoming more of a threat to communities,” he said.
Matodzi said the possibility that DNA tests, post-mortem results, evidence and witnesses in these cases are compromised is an unfortunate reality.
"All these cases are not yet transferred to the regional court or high court for trial," said Matozi.
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He emphasised that gender-based violence has spiraled out of control due to failures in the entire justice system.
"If indeed all these cases are not yet ready for trial after more than 14 months, then we're further assured of the dismal dysfunction of the South African Police Service and Thohoyandou's public prosecutors," he said.
National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi disputed the claims and said investigations into Bele's case were completed end of January.
"The docket was forwarded to DDPP TNDOU for directives and on Friday, 1 March, the indictment was received from the office of the DDPP and the case was then transferred to the Thohoyandou High Court for trial commencing on 10 June to 14 June," explained Malabi-Dzhangi.
She said the case against Madadzhe has been postponed to 29 April for the investigating officer to finalise further investigations as instructed by the DDPP and for the case to be decided upon by the DDPP.
Malabi-Dzhangi said this case cannot be transferred to either the regional or high court when investigations are not completed to avoid miscarriage of justice.
“The Munyai case was on our court roll on Tuesday, 5 March and will be transferred to the high court for trial on Friday, 8 March. None of the cases were not transferred to either the regional court or high court as investigations were still outstanding and they were not yet trial-ready," said Malabi-Dzhangi.
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