Court warns Zolile Sekeleni that Thabo Bester trial will proceed whether he has legal representation or not
Zolile Sekeleni appeared in court on Tuesday alongside Magudumana, Bester and six others.
Nandipha Magudumana (right) greets her father, Zolile Sekeleni (left), during an appearance at the the Bloemfontein High Court on 5 June 2024. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The Bloemfontein High Court has warned Nandipha Magudumana's father that the trial concerning the escape of Thabo Bester would proceed whether he had legal representation or not.
Zolile Sekeleni appeared in court on Tuesday alongside Magudumana, Bester and six others.
They face charges of fraud, corruption, aiding an escape, violating a corpse, and defeating the ends of justice.
The matter relates to Bester’s 2022 brazen escape from the Mangaung prison.
Sekeleni was the only accused who appeared in court on Tuesday without a legal representative.
The group appeared in court for a pre-trial hearing, which was initially set for 21 July.
Judge Lani Opperman started off by asking all the accused whether they had legal representation.
She also wanted to establish how ready the attorneys were for trial.
Sekeleni told the court that since January, he had been trying to get an attorney but had not been successful.
Judge Opperman warned that this may impact his case negatively.
"If you do not participate or do your due diligence, the court may, in terms of section 34.2a in the interest of administration of justice, order that the matter proceed with or without a legal representative for you," said Opperman.
The matter has been postponed to 19 September.