Meyiwa trial: Court hears Legal Aid believes discharge application not likely to succeed
The body has refused to foot the entire bill for time required by some of the lawyers, leaving the court uncertain on whether they will continue with the application.
The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial resumed in the Pretoria High Court on 22 January 2024. Picture: Kgomotso Modise/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The Pretoria High Court has heard that Legal Aid South Africa believes the discharge application by the accused in the Senzo Meyiwa trial is not likely to succeed.
Some of the defence lawyers have butted heads with Legal Aid over the funding of a Section 174 application.
The body has refused to foot the entire bill for time required by some of the lawyers, leaving the court uncertain on whether they will continue with the application.
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The State closed its case last week, and all eyes are now on the defence to make its case.
Addressing the court on Thursday, a representative from Legal Aid South Africa said its constitutional case management committee has refused to pay one of the lawyers in the matter, Advocate Charles Mnisi, a daily fee while he takes four weeks to prepare a discharge application for two of the accused.
Mnisi’s colleague in the defence, Sipho Ramosepele, who represents Bongani Ntanzi addressed the court on Legal Aid’s reasons.
"Having discussed the matter with our instructing attorneys, they feel that we stand less chance in succeeding the merits thereof- that’s what they told our clients that we don’t have a leg to stand on on the 174 application."
Now, uncertainty lingers on whether Mnisi and Ramosepele will continue with the application for their clients.
When proceedings ended on Thursday, only accused number 4, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, was certain that he would proceed with the application and only Fisokuhle Ntuli, the fifth accused, had abandoned his.