Pretoria - Sentencing proceedings for controversial Mamelodi businessman Vusi “Khekhe” Mathibela and his three co-accused was once again delayed today, as the experts who have compiled pre-sentencing reports regarding the four, will only be available to take the stand later this week.
The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria was told that the clinical psychologist and the social worker - who each prepared a report on each accused - will only be available on Wednesday and Friday.
The two experts will have to face questions from the State regarding the findings in their reports, as prosecutor Jennifer Cronje indicated that she did not accept their findings.
While Judge Papi Mosopa at the end reluctantly agreed to a postponement to Wednesday, he voiced his displeasure at yet another delay. The judge pointed out that Mathibela and his three co-accused – Sipho Hudla, Matamela Robert Mutapa and Bonginkosi Paul Khumalo – were convicted in June already.
The judge said the defence had more than enough time to ensure that their experts were at court on Tuesday. The judge also noted that when he granted yet another postponement in September to this week, he made it clear that it was a final postponement.
The bulk of the accused have been awaiting trial behind bars for many years following the murder of businessman Wandile Bozwana, who was gunned down at the Garsfontein offramp from the highway in Pretoria east in October 2015.
Mathibela was initially out on bail, but this was revoked in 2018 when he broke his bail conditions.
He was heading for a holiday abroad with his family when he was arrested.
Cronje meanwhile vehemently opposed another delay in the matter, and said it has been more than seven years since Bozwana’s murder. His family and his business partner Mpho Baloi, who was wounded in the attack, were anxious for justice to be done, she said.
Judge Mosopa meanwhile ordered that the experts will have to attend court this week until the state was done cross examining them.
Mathibela and his co-accused are awaiting their sentence while they are being held in C-Max.
Pretoria News