MURDER accused, Sandile Mbatha, who is a primary school teacher, appeared before the Joburg High Court on Friday, 8 March.
This after his case was postponed on Monday, 4 March after the media requested to cover court proceedings. Mbatha is accused of killing Tshidiso Ramatlo and Katleho Letseli for allegedly stealing VW Polo lights.
The court ruled that the media will be able to cover court proceedings, including taking photographs and videos. After the media request, defence counsel Lumka Qoqo asked the court that she prepare her arguments regarding the media request.
On Friday, both the state and defence counsel brought forward their arguments regarding the media request.
Qoqo stood with her arguments presenting that the accused is a teacher and therefore having his photo circulate in the media will traumatise the pupils he teaches as the accused is a primary school teacher who teaches grade 4 to 7 pupils.
News of the accused being a teacher and still teaching sent shocked the court, including the judge.
“I am amazed he is still teaching,” said Judge Nees Coertse.
State advocate, Monde Mbaqa argued that the matter is in an open court and therefore open to all members of the public.
After all the arguments, Coertse concluded that the media is allowed to cover the court proceedings and will sit with the media, the defence counsel and the state advocate to discuss how they will work around this.
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The case was postponed to Tuesday, 19 March.
Meanwhile the families of the murdered boys told Daily Sun they are not happy that the case keeps dragging.
Katlego's aunt, Portia Zulu said: “Everyone in court including the judge was shocked to hear that Mbatha still works as a teacher because we were previously told that he was suspended. His defence was fighting for the matter not to be in the media because he is a teacher. He was already a teacher when he killed these children.”
Tshidiso’s mom, Lillian Ramatlo said she is not happy with how the case keeps dragging.
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