State advocate George Baloyi announced this morning that Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela may be permanently removed from the slain Orlando Pirates murder trial, due to health reasons.
This news was revealed at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. The decision to potentially remove Judge Maumela from the trial could have significant implications for the case.
It remains to be seen who will take over the proceedings if he is developing story.
The case resumed on Monday, 12 June 2023, after it was postponed. The trial was postponed last month, due to one of the defence lawyers needing to attend another matter.
Before the latest adjournment, Zandile Khumalo-Gumede, who was among those present when Meyiwa was killed, spent a day and a half giving testimony.
Meyiwa was shot dead on 26 October 2014, at the home of his then-girlfriend Kelly Khumalo mother’s house, Ntombi Khumalo in Vooslorus. In the house when the incident happened, there were seven eye witnesses present, including, Kelly, her sister Zandi, their mother Ntombi, Zandi’s then boyfriend Longwe Twala and Senzo’s friends Tumelo Madlala and Mthokozisi Thwala.
Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba has announced that Judge Maumela is ill and might be away for a long time. The trial was set down from today until Thursday.
The trial has been postponed to July 17. This as deputy president Ledwaba announced that presiding judge is ill and might be away for a long time.
“We will make arrangements for the trial to continue”. SABC News reported.
Earlier, ahead of the much-anticipated resumption of the trial, where state witness Zandile Khumalo-Gumede was scheduled to resume testifying, state advocate George Baloyi stated that this was owing to Judge Maumela’s health.
