The court case against Thabo Sibanze (28), who stands accused of intimidation in the murder case of the two SAMWU officials who were slain in 2019, was postponed again by the Sibasa Regional Court on 2 May. This followed after Legal Aid South Africa failed to send a lawyer to represent him. The case was postponed to 5 June, while the court waits for a Legal Aid representative to be appointed for Sibanze.
The family members of the two murdered SAMWU officials, Timpson Musetsho and Ronald Mani, however, were not wholly pleased about the delay. Rabelani Mphaphuli, who represents both families, said they were deeply worried and affected as they did not know when the matter would ever come to an end. "As family members, we are also worried that the kingpins, those who sent the hitmen to gun down our beloved family members, have not yet been arrested. We want the regional court in Sibasa to speed up the trial, and those found guilty to be sent to jail for their deeds," said Mphaphuli.
The head of Legal Aid South Africa's Thohoyandou office, Mr Thomas Madzaga, confirmed that Sibanze's case was brought to them and that they had issued it for judicare. Madzaga said they had outside lawyers accredited within their structures, and that they were still awaiting their response.
"There is internal conflict of interest with our practitioners who deal with regional court cases, as they know the victims. That is why we cannot assist him (Sibanze) ourselves. The matter has not yet been accepted by judicare practitioners and, as Legal Aid South Africa, we want this matter to be handled by judicare practitioners, so that the accused can get a fair trial," said Madzaga.
Meanwhile, Sibanze's co-accused, the Radzuma brothers, Simon, Percy and Ndivhuwo, will appear in the Limpopo High Court in Thohoyandou on 29 May.