Professional Update
A
monthly newsletter for KZN Attorneys from the Kwazulu-Natal Law Society

17 July 2009

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

InfoUpdate 15 of 2009
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

Regional Courts

Durban

US singer not a suspect in probe - 15 July
American soul singer Robert Kelly, popularly known as R Kelly, will not be called to testify in an investment scam case, the Durban Regional Court heard on Wednesday. "The state has obtained a statement from R Kelly. He is not a witness and the state has no intention of calling him to testify," said state prosecutor, Blackie Swart. A Durban woman, Busisiwe Priscilla Zakwe, implicated Kelly in the alleged investment scam that apparently swindled money out of more than 50 people, many of them pensioners. - IOL website

Pietermaritzburg

Shadowy deals behind lifts upgrade - 15 July
A small contract to supply storage sheds has exposed how the tentacles of Jabulani Mabaso's shadowy business empire reach into Gauteng's R110-million upgrade of lifts in state hospitals and buildings. Mabaso, owner of Indiza Holdings, is due to appear in court on Wednesday to answer charges of defrauding the KwaZulu-Natal government of R200m. - IOL website

High Court to hear fraud trial of millions - 15 July
A businessman and accountant charged with fraud involving millions of rands were on Wednesday referred to the Pietermaritzburg High Court for trial. Jabulani Mabaso and Pamela Zulu appeared before Pietermaritzburg magistrate' Divesh Mootheram who ordered that they stand trial in the high court. The State alleged that the fraud committed by Mabaso and his company related to the supply of stationery to the KwaZulu-Natal education department. - IOL website

Majali and his lawyer Barry Aaron avoid arrest for money laundering - 2 July
Eyewitness news are reporting that ANC benefactor, and the man involved in both the Oilgate and Eastern Cape Feeding Scheme scandals, Sandi Majali and his attorney Barry Aaron avoided warrants for their arrest being executed when a deal was struck between lawyers at the Randburg Magistrate's Court. According to EWN the warrants were issued following a lengthy Scorpions investigation into money laundering relating to a KwaZulu-Natal government tender. The amount involved here is approximately R2.5 million which was paid into his attorney’s trust account ; allegedly the proceeds of corruption relating to a school stationery tender in KZN. - The Richmark Sentinel website

See also : FSB flexes its muscles to protect consumers

Fight for R300 000 owed by fraud accused - 17 July
While businessman Jabulani Mabaso stood in court this week - answering to charges of fraud totalling R200-million - further details emerged about the havoc his companies caused to Gauteng's lift upgrade project. The Star reported this week how a small business hired by Mabaso's company continues to fight for R130 000 it is owed for its role in the R110m elevator project. It has now been confirmed that at least two other companies are in the same boat and are owed a combined R160 000, bringing the known debt to just under R300 000. - IOL website

See also :
Man on R200m fraud charges stripped of assets - 11 June
IOL website
[InfoUpdate 12 of 2009]

VIP driver charged after shooting - 16 July
The "blue light" VIP escort driver whose passenger allegedly shot out the tyre of a vehicle near Pietermaritzburg was on Thursday charged with six attempted murders. His passenger, South African Police Service (SAPS) Constable Hlanganani Nxumalo allegedly caused an accident in which six people were injured on November 15. Nxumalo allegedly shot a Mazda's tyre, causing the vehicle to swerve across the N3 highway and collide with an oncoming vehicle. The driver, SAPS Constable Caiphas Xolani Ndlela appeared with Nxumalo in the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court on Thursday. Ndlela was also charged with reckless and negligent driving. - IOL website

Dramatic twist in VIP blue light case - 17 July
The case of the KwaZulu-Natal VIP unit's "blue light bully" took a dramatic new turn yesterday when the driver of the police car was brought before the court and charged with attempted murder. Ndlela had been summoned to appear alongside Nxumalo, who had been charged soon after the incident. Both men face six charges of attempted murder or, alternatively, the unlawful discharge or reckless handling of a firearm. In addition, Ndlela faces a charge of reckless and negligent driving. - IOL website

SA Roadlink bus driver acquitted - 20 July
The driver of an SA Roadlink bus which crashed on the N3 highway on December 24, 2006, killing 12 people, has been acquitted of 12 charges of culpable homicide. Driver Charles Vaudim, of Durban, pleaded not guilty to the charges before Pietermaritzburg Regional Magistrate M Mngomezulu. Vaudim’s plea was that a rear tyre burst, causing the bus to veer out of control hitting a bridge over the N3 highway in Pietermaritzburg. - The Times website

Pretoria

Kunene in the dock - 9 July
Surrounded by heavily armed Correctional Services officers, computer wizard Muziwendoda (Muzi) Kunene yesterday arrived at the Pretoria Regional Court in leg irons and handcuff. Kunene is accused of attempting to murder his son, Msebenziwenkosi Kunene, on November 21, 2007.  His son was the main witnesses in Kunene's Bloemfontein murder case. - IOL website

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