Meyiwa trial: Black Lawyers Association wants meeting with presiding judge
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng commented on black lawyers in court after blasting Thulani Mngomezulu, who is representing the first accused, for not informing him that he would be absent.
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng presides over the re-start of the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial on 17 July 2023. Picture: Xanderleigh Dookey Makhaza/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The Black Lawyers Association (BLA) wants a meeting with the judge presiding over the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial.
The association is trying to understand why Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng made comments about black lawyers.
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Mokgoatlheng blasted attorney Thulani Mngomezulu for being a no-show during proceedings on Wednesday.
He questioned why Mngomezulu - who is representing the first accused - did not call to inform him of his absence.
Five men are being tried for Meyiwa's 2014 murder in what police believe was an ordered hit.
BLA questioned what Mngomezulu’s conduct had to do with him being black, and why Mokgoatlheng pointed that out.
“Is this how black lawyers behave? The attorney or the advocate, himself, doesn’t phone the judge and the judge must smile because he’s black,” said Mokgoatlheng.
BLA President Nkosana Mvundlela said they would be writing to Gauteng Judge President Dunstan Mlambo.
“He might as well be telling the country that he believes that the lawyers there are already a problem. Therefore, because they are black, they are a problem.
“I do not believe that that is what we hold onto. We would want to have an engagement to clear these issues so that they do not become the perception.”
While proceedings continued on Wednesday without Mngomezulu in court, State prosecutor George Baloyi told the court that he would be in attendance on Friday.