MBOMBELA – The sentencing of a driver who caused the death of 24 workers of Tulloh Farm when his truck collided with a train two years ago, was again delayed after his long-time lawyer, Adv Melanie Erasmus, withdrew from the case, apparently because she and her client did not agree on some of its merits.
“I would like to withdraw myself due to reasons I won’t say in court,” she said and added that Adv Du Plessis would continue with the case. When Magistrate Nomsa Khumalo asked if the accused, Mr George Mandlazi (33) agreed to be represented by Du Plessis, he shrugged his shoulders and said he had no choice.
The judge quickly told him that he did have a choice and no one was forcing him to accept the new lawyer. He then agreed and said he would accept him.
Du Plessis then requested about 30 minutes break to discuss matters with Mandlazi after which the court proceedings continued normally with the senior social worker, Ms Fikile Ngwamba giving a pre-sentencing report which she had compiled. It included the views of his family, the victims’ families, survivors, community development workers and the ward councillor of Phiva where Mandlazi resides.
Read more on Mpumalanga News printed version on Thursday.
