Mdluli case postponed to Monday

The long-running case against suspended police crime intelligence chief Lieutenant General Richard Mdluli was on Monday postponed in the South Gauteng High Court until Monday next week to allow the State to secure the attendance of two more witnesses to assist the court.

It is believed the contents of two statements were disputed by the people who gave them and Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng wants the police members who took down the statements to testify to their veracity.

Mdluli – due to retire next year – and his co-accused Lieutenant Colonel Mthembeni Mthunzi have been on trial since mid-2015 for charges related to the death and disappearance of Oupa Ramogibe in February 1999.

Mdluli, based at the Vosloorus Police Station at the time, was arrested with court orderly Samuel Dlomo, Colonel Nkosana “Killer” Ximba and Mthunzi in 2011. Charges were dropped against Dlomo and Ximba after a court decided there was insufficient evidence to charge them.

While charges of murder against Mdluli and Mthunzi were also withdrawn, the two senior officers still face five counts of intimidation, two of kidnapping, two of assault with the intent to commit grievous bodily harm and one of defeating the ends of justice after a Supreme Court of Appeal ruled for Freedom Under Law that the National Prosecuting Authority must reinstate charges against Mdluli.

Ramogibe was in a civil marriage to Tshidi Buthelezi, who was simultaneously in a customary marriage with Mdluli, who stated in court he had paid “about R6 000” lobola.

Mdluli has maintained the charges against him were the result of an officially sanctioned plot to prevent him from becoming national police commissioner.

Called Ulibambe lingashoni (Don’t let the sun set), the operation was set in motion by senior police officers who wanted to “tarnish my name” and “bring me down”, Mdluli has previously testified.

Mdluli’s lawyer Ike Motloung will also bring an application to gain greater access to the docket against Mdluli.

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