THE Senzo Meyiwa murder trial has hit an unexpected snag.
A new legal counsel was introduced in court leading to the trial being postponed to next year.
On Monday, 21 November, the North Gauteng High Court heard that Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya and Bongani Ntanzi terminated their contract with attorney TT Thobane for a new lawyer, Sipho Ramosepele.
State Prosecutor Advocate George Baloyi told the court they were informed of the new development in the morning at about 10am.
He told the court: “Mr Ramosepele needs some time to acquaint himself with the record transcript of the case and the case dockets.”
Ramosepele confirmed he is now representing accused one and two. He told the court that he was approached by Sibiya’s father to represent him, and the dad also suggested that he represents Ntanzi since the two grew up together.
Ramosepele said that’s why he couldn’t tell the other lawyers about the new development because he needed to know if he’d be taking over for the two accused.
Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela postponed the case to 2 May.
Before the adjournment, Ntanzi addressed the court asking Thobane not to feel bad.
He said there were issues that they felt were not being handled well and some of the things said by the state that they felt needed intervention.
Thobane responded by saying there was no need for them to feel bad.
“I will talk to them when I see them,” he said.
Maumela told Ntanzi that Thobane is a professional and knows how to behave.
