The trial of one of the alleged July unrest instigators in KwaZulu-Natal, Mdumiseni Zuma, has been delayed yet again.
Zuma’s lawyer told the Pietermaritzburg Magistrates Court on Thursday morning that he would no longer be representing the accused.
Zuma is accused of incitement to commit public violence and inciting arson linked to the burning of the Brookside Mall in Pietermaritzburg during last year’s unrest.
His trial was meant to begin on Thursday after it was postponed in August.
Thursday’s proceedings resumed with Zuma’s lawyer telling the court that he was withdrawing due to ethical reasons.
The National Prosecuting Authority’s Natasha Ramkisson Kara said: “We are ready to proceed with the matter today, however, were advised that the attorney on record for the accused was withdrawing his services. It is for that reason the matter could not proceed and the accused now would like to make an application for legal aid.”
The State was not happy about the latest development but believed it had a strong case against Zuma, who was working as a security guard at the mall when it was looted and torched.
The matter was postponed to 16 September 2022.
Zuma stated that he would be applying for legal aid while the state has voiced how unhappy it was about the delays.
Rakissoon-Kara said: “We had put on record that we have witnesses ready to testify and that we are most ready to proceed with the trial. But as the magistrate said that we need to afford the accused the opportunity to do so which is to apply for legal aid.”
-EWN
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