Load-shedding impacting court proceedings

The continued postponement of a murder trial as a result of power outages has prompted a frustrated magistrate to call on government to ‘to do something about the monster that is load-shedding’.

This was the plea of Magistrate AM Mthethwa at KwaMsane Court where the bail application of a man suspected of murdering uMkhanyakude District Municipality Councillor Mxolisi Mthethwa was postponed.

“Load-shedding has had a huge impact on the courts and on the constitutional rights and principles of law. The government should do something about it,” said Mthethwa.

The suspect, a 43-year-old taxi owner who was arrested on 9 March, will remain in custody until the matter is provisionally back in court on 8 May, depending on the availability of state prosecutor Advocate Gcaba.

Load-shedding would determine the exact time when the application gets under way as the proceedings have to be recorded, said Mthethwa.

The bail applicant’s second witness is expected to give evidence in support of his application, with the State’s witness also expected to give evidence.

The suspect, who was out on parole at the time of his arrest, faces five counts: murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, illegal possession of a firearm, and illegal possession of ammunition.

In his request for bail, the suspect said he runs a taxi business that requires him to be hands on. He also cares for his children, pregnant wife, and elderly mother.

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