Cape Town — Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng was left visibly upset about absence of advocate Thulani Mngomezulu, one of the defence lawyers, when the trial resumed on Wednesday.
On Monday, the trial was postponed after Mngomzulu said he needed time to prepare and familiarise himself with the evidence before the state called the next two witnesses. The following day, Mngomezulu was still a no-show, failing to call the judge or his clerk to be excused, EWN reported. When the court reconvened on Wednesday, state advocate, George Baloyi, informed the judge the trial could continue in his absence.
“He indicated that he is seized with another matter and that matter ran over from yesterday [Tuesday] to today, but he said we can proceed today [Wednesday].” Baloyi said.
[WATCH] #SenzoMeyiwaTrial: Sipho Ramosepele tells Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng that Adv. Zandile Mshololo informed him that Thulani Mngomezulu asked him to stand in for him. Ramosepele says he cannot stand in for Mngomezulu. The judge is not pleased.#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/4Y6OoGZABQ
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) March 20, 2024
This left Judge Mokgoatlheng displeased and he did not hold back, asking whether this was they way black lawyers behaved, TimesLIVE reported.
“Is this how black lawyers behave, some of them? How can you tell a judge you are unable to proceed today because you said the two witnesses were short witnesses? He doesn’t know what they said. He has to read the evidence of those two witnesses, prepare and come here. He says, ‘I don’t have a problem with the evidence of those two witnesses’.”
“Why doesn’t he phone me? This is what counsel or an attorney who has ethical standards does. I get a message through my registrar. The attorney or advocate himself doesn’t phone the judge and the judge must smile because he is black?” Mokgoatlheng said.
Mokgoathheng asked whether ethics still exist at university and questioned why Mngomezulu called the advocate to fill in and not him. After the parties decided to proceed with the matter, the state called interpreter Evelyne Mothlapeng and photographer Sgt Matsobane Maphakela.
Mothlapeng was present when Ntanzi confessed before magistrate Vivian Cronje and Maphakela took pictures of the pointings-out made by Sibiya. The matter has been postponed to Friday for the state to call its next witness.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
