In the latest proceedings in the SBV trial of April 2014, Mr Richard Ngomane was given good tidings in that the case against him had been provisionally withdrawn.
14 of the 15 remaining suspects were granted an extension on their bail when the trial was postponed for Wednesday on Monday, October 10. Mr Robert Clack remained in custody.
During court proceedings on Wednesday, October 12 an order was made to withdraw Mr Lesley Khathi`s bail, this was due to him delaying the case in court. The case was postponed to Friday for continuation of trial.
The 15 remaining accused of robbing the SBV holdings of more than R104-million in eMalahleni on April 27, 2014 appeared before the court on October 14. The case was postponed by Judge Bert Bam to allow the new legal representation for Khathi, Advocate Albert Thenga time to liaise with his client and to be brought up to speed with the case.
“I am prepared to reinstate your bail on condition that the process of justice not be interfered with, this also applies to all other accused on bail,” said Judge Bam.
He went on to say that the trial would stand down until Monday October 17 with additional bail conditions being made for accused 10 and 13 to pay their advocate before Monday.
On Monday, Ms Leona Fraser, attorney to Messrs Nathaniel Hlathi and Desmond Mohlamonyane, spoke up saying that she would like to bring to the court’s attention the alibi for both her clients, claiming that they were not present at the time of the actual robbery and events thereafter.
Moving on Judge Bam advised Mr Teenage Mabogoane that if he wished to, he now had the opportunity to explain his plea of not guilty and asked him if he understood the procedure, to which Mabogoane affirmed and opted to remained silent.
One of the witnesses, Mr Petrus Mokhathi was called to the stand and said he was on duty as a guard along with Mr Bonginkosi Nkambule.
Mokhathi then explained that while the two were on shift they reported to the gun vault officer, Mr Tshwanelo Mokofane, who left the two guards stationed at the SBV holdings in Klipfontein, eMalahleni.
“I told my colleague I needed the bathroom, he remained in the gun vault. I was there for about two minutes when I heard him calling me, he called for a second time to which I asked him what for, I did not receive an answer. He called the third time without responding why he was calling, when I came out I saw him standing there outside the CIT office,” said Mokhathi.
Three men were standing there alongside Nkambule.
“My colleague told me that they are the investigators of SBV working with police and they were here to arrest us for stealing money,” said Mokhathi.
The two men were reported to have hastily displayed their identification cards to Mokhathi. Mohkathi told them that he wished to report the arrest to his chief protection officer, he was prevented from making the call and as he attempted to make his way to the gun vault one of the men grabbed him by the wrists and cuffed his hands behind his back.
The two guards were forcefully removed from the centre and transported in a white Volkswagen Polo Vivo.
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