5 December 2024- The Johannesburg High Court postponed the case against Frans Hlakudi and 11 of his co-accused, was postponed to 5 March 2025 for pre-trial. Meanwhile, the Sterkfontein hospital declared Antonio Trindade unfit to stand trial after he underwent a medical assessment to determine his fitness to stand trial.
The Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said, Trindade’s matter was subsequently separated and he will be back in court on 8 May 2025, for further medical re-assessment. Mamothame said Michael Lomas was also joined with the other accused following his extradition from the United Kingdom.
“Hlakudi, who was a manager at Eskom at the time of the alleged offence together with his co-accused, is facing charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering, following his alleged direct involvement in the R1,4 billion meant for the upgrade of Kusile power station in Mpumalanga, between 2014 and 2017.
“Lomas will remain in custody, while the other accused are out on bail,” he said.
25 September 2024- A fraud case against a businessman, Thoshan Panday (52), was postponed in his absentia by the Durban Magistrate’s Court until 4 October 2024, to conduct an enquiry into his absence in court. This comes after the Head of Westville prison did not inform the court that Panday would not be attending court.
The National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said, despite a medical certificate being produced by his legal representative and handed in to the record indicating that Panday is admitted in a private hospital in Durban, magistrate deemed it befitting for the head of prison and the admitting doctor, where he is allegedly kept for medical attention to be subpoenaed to account for his absence and for not informing the court and the state.
“Following the court’s dismissal of his bail application on 9 September 2024, the matter was postponed to 25 September 2024, for it to be transferred to the Durban High Court.
“The state requested for a further detention warrant to be issued to extend his detention in his absence,” he said.
Picture: ANC MP, Sibusiso Kula who is accused of killing his wife/Google
By OBAKENG MAJE
The murder case against ANC Member of Parliament (MP), Sibusiso Kula (34) was postponed by the Orkney Magistrate’s Court to 13 October 2023. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said, the case was postponed for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to decide on the transfer of the case to the North West High Court owing to its serious nature.
Mamothame said Kula’s attorney argued against a further postponement, citing unreasonable delay by the state. He further said, however, the state indicated that previous postponements were a result of incomplete investigations.
“The investigations have been completed and the state is ready to act on the awaited instruction from the DPP. Kula was also provided with a list of witnesses, as was instructed by the North West High Court when granting him bail.
“He is currently out on R50 000 bail, granted by the North West High Court following his appeal on the Orkney Magistrate’s Court decision to deny him bail. Kula was ordered to surrender his passports, and report twice a day at the nearest police station,” said Mamothame.
He added that Kula was also instructed to provide the investigating officer with his work itinerary, report to the investigating officer if he must move outside his residential jurisdiction, and have no direct or indirect contact with his children.
Mamothame said Kula’s bid to have the case struck off the court previously rejected the roll.
“The police reports reveal that Kula’s wife, Jennifer Mohlomi, was found murdered on 27 November 2022 in what seemed like a robbery. She was found with a stab wound on her back, but the object that was used for her alleged murder has not been recovered.
“The medical facility reported the matter, where she was allegedly transported by the accused to receive medical attention. The accused told the police that he was not at home when the incident occurred. Following thorough investigations by the police, he was linked to the alleged murder and was arrested on 20 January 2023, and charged with murder,” he said.
The Guardian 