New Oshiwambo court interpreter requested for Phala Phala burglary trial

A new Oshiwambo court interpreter has been hired in the Phala Phala trial, however, the language problem persists, with one defence lawyer calling the current one "worse" than the previous one.

Oshiwambo is a Namibian language that’s also the mother tongue of all the three accused in the matter, Imanuwela David and siblings Froliana and Ndilinasho Joseph.

They all appeared in the Modimolle Regional Court in Limpopo on Wednesday, facing charges of breaking and entering into President Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm and stealing 580,000 US dollars in cash.

During the court proceedings, the State prosecutor had to repeat himself a number of times for the court interpreter.

There was an awkward moment when the interpreter did not know what the word "recant" meant.

Magistrate Peter Manthata was also not happy with the interpreter’s performance.

"Please interpret what he (the witness) is saying. I want to hear his points. Sir, listen to me, you must interpret everything he is saying. Don’t explain to him if he tells you something, even if he is not answering the question, just interpret it."

The defence lawyers have formally requested for a new interpreter when the matter resumes on 8 December.