Rahima Essop

Prosecutors in the Andries Tatane murder trial have withdrawn charges against one of the accused on Monday afternoon.

Eight policemen were initially arrested for their involvement in the death of the Ficksburg resident.

Tatane was allegedly beaten up and shot at with rubber bullets during a service delivery protest in 2011.

After a lengthy delay, the trial began with Prosecutor Sello Mathloko telling the court that the state had withdrawn all charges against accused number seven, Kanathasen Moonsamy.

He then left the courtroom.

The remaining officers have all pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and murder.

Prosecutors wanted to show a video of the brutal assault on Monday, but the footage had to be brought in from Bloemfontein.

This delayed proceedings.

The state has now called its first witness to take the stand.

(Edited by Clare Matthes)