THE trial of the five men accused of killing Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa has resumed at the North Gauteng High Court on Monday, 14 November.
The proceeding began with a short adjournment, this after a request was made by State prosecutor Advocate George Baloyi for the court to hear a request for a watching brief.
Baloyi told Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela that lawyer Magdalene Moonsamy, who represents singer Kelly Khumalo on a watch brief, has requested to be allowed back in court and be given access to transcripts of the trial.
He said the transcript includes the second docket which was introduced in court.
Moonsamy was excused from attending the court proceedings when the trial began this year.
Before he could deliberate on the matter, Judge Maumela requested to read the letter first and allow lawyer to accused five, Advocate Zandile Mshololo to also read it, this after she told the court that she has not seen or received it.
After going through the letter, Maumela said the letter is a repetition of a ruling that has already been made.
Baloyi said the state opposes the request, because a ruling on the watching has already been made, when Moonsamy was recused from the court earlier this year.
He said the watching brief request could only be entertained after her client has appeared in court.
“What we are saying that she cannot be granted greater rights than the others,” said Baloyi.
Both defence lawyers opposed the watching brief.
Meanwhile Attorney TT Thobane, representing accused one to four, has asked for donations so he could continue to represent his clients.
He said he’s requesting crowd funding to avoid having to withdraw from the case which would cause another delay.
In a statement, Thobane said” “We TT Thobane Attorneys, hereby plead to the public for crowd-funding in quest for justice in this matter, for the sole purpose of not delaying the matter further should clients not be able to financially instructs us further on the matter.
“Because if they do not, we will be acting within our right to withdraw as attorneys of record,” he said
Thobane further said they will undertake that the money raised will be used to fund this trial and should there be any surplus in the funds, they will be used not limited, but including to address other social ills in communities.
“Any interested person may donate to the following banking details TT Thobane Attorneys FNB Trust Account No 62484966539. Further note that whenever deposit is made, reference should be your initials and surname,” he said.
