InfoUpdate
An Information Service supplied by the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society

27 August 2010

This professional service draws attention to current and important items of news
 and members are directed to the hosts' websites

InfoUpdate 19 of 2010
Recent Judgments 

Electronic copies of this information may be obtained from our librarians at help@lawlibrary.co.za or click on the underlined hyperlink where relevant

Magistrates Courts

Benoni

See : MXit rape suspect in the dock [South Africa]

Bloemfontein

Reitz Four to appeal sentencing - 16 August
The four former University of the Free State students known as the "Reitz Four" will appeal their sentencing, their lawyer said on Monday. "The application for leave to appeal their sentencing was lodged on Friday", their lawyer, Christo Dippenaar, said. - Mail & Guardian website

Camperdown

See also : Victory for 'night of hell' victim [KwaZulu-Natal High Court : Durban]

Durban

Court rejects Zulu's compensation offer- 26 August
The sentencing of Durban socialite, Sifiso Zulu, begun today in the city's Regional Court. The state dismissed the offer of compensation for the victims' families as the act of a man with his "back against the wall." Prosecutor, Mark Dyson called Zulu a man of influence and affluence who struck the names of prominent figures during his trial. - East Coast Radio website

Prince Sifiso Zulu sentenced to 5 years in jail - 26 August
Durban businessman and socialite Sifiso Zulu has been sentenced to five years imprisonment, of which two years has been suspended for three years. Zulu has also been fined R7 500 and must surrender his driver's licence. - Times Live website

Grinning Zulu says case is far from over - 27 August
He was sentenced to an effective three years in jail, but a grinning Sifiso Zulu left court on Thursday, pronouncing : "This case is far from over. Why must I sit here and cry? I am not going to jail". It was the attitude expected by the surviving victims of the March, 2008 accident. - IOL website

High rise case postponed to December - 10 August
The case against four people accused of forcing foreigners to jump off a high rise building was postponed by the Durban Magistrate's Court on Tuesday as the prosecutor was on sick leave. Magistrate Farida Mohammed adjourned the case to December 6 for further investigation. eThekwini Municipality ANC ward councillor Vusi Khoza, Mzokuthoba Mngonyama and Patricia Ballantyne face charges of public violence and conspiracy to commit assault. Sean Thabo Jacobs faces an attempted murder charge. - IOL website
Keyphrase :
Albert Park

Gauteng racehorse owner due in court over Zuma incident - 10 August
A Gauteng racehorse owner will appear in the Durban Magistrate's Court on September 8 on a charge of assaulting President Jacob Zuma by pouring liquid on him at the Durban July. Daryl Peense, of Alberton, who was arrested on July 31, has claimed that his drink accidentally fell on the president. On Tuesday, National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said Peense had been released on R500 bail. KwaZulu-Natal police spokeswoman Director Phindile Radebe could not provide any details about the incident. - Times Live website

Johannesburg

Attorney accused of building fraud - 12 August
A 51-year-old attorney appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Thursday on fraud charges relating to the R3,5 million sale of a building, Gauteng police said. Kenneth Mtila appeared with Vusumuzi Mkhumbuzi for the alleged fraudulent sale of the hijacked building, said Colonel Noxolo Kweza. Mtila handed himself over to the Johannesburg central police station on Thursday. He was later released on bail of R20 000. - IOL website

Mooi River

Community wants answers after farm murder - 15 August
The investigating officer dealing with the triple murder on the Karg farm near Mooi River said he was not surprised that two men accused of killing Lorraine Karg and employees Hilda Linyane and Zakhewo Mhlongo withdrew their bid for bail.  Warrant Officer Derrick Coetzee said the strong protest outside the Mooi River Magistrate's Court reflecting the community's anger may also have been a factor. "In my opinion their security would definitely be in jeopardy if they left jail to await trial". - IOL website

Pinetown

Zweli Mkhize assasination plot takes a gruesome turn - 6 August
The hearing into the alleged plot to assassinate former MEC and current KZN premier Zweli Mkhize took a turn for the gruesome Friday with revelations of amputated body parts being part of the whole sorry mess. The Pinetown Magistrates Court heard that an amputated hand was to be used in the commission of the murder.  - NewsTime website

Mkhize plotters denied bail - 11 August
Four of the five men accused of plotting to kill KwaZulu-Natal premier Zweli Mkhize were denied bail by the Pinetown Regional Court on Wednesday. The court ruled that Sizwe Mkhize, Themba Xaba, Jackson Chili and Mlungisi Xulu were likely to evade trial if they were released on bail. Sthembiso Mthembu was released on R2 000 bail. - IOL website

Pretoria

McBride back in court for driving drunk - 26 August
Robert McBride is back in the dock on Wednesday when his driving drunk trial resumes in the Pretoria  Magistrate's Court. The court heard that McBride went to several doctors to try and obtain a medical certificate. The practitioner who gave him a doctor’s note stating that he was suffering from hypoglycaemia died earlier this month. McBride's defence argues the State's main witnesses are lying because they are trying to evade prosecution on other matters. - Eye Witness News website

See also : Top Pretoria lawyer held [South Africa]

Seshego

Football murdering family Makwena granted bail - 18 August
The Seshego Magistrate's Court has granted bail to a family accused of one of the most bizarre, if not cruellest , crimes committed this year. Three members of the Makwena family stand accused of stabbing, beating and killing the head of the family over an argument about watching a world cup match between Germany and Australia. Warrant Officer Mothemane Malefo said the trio will next appear in the Mpumalanga High Court at a date yet to be set. - NewsTime website

InfoUpdate : an Information Service supplied by the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society