Gauteng Judge President 'perturbed' by pace of Meyiwa trial, says presiding judge

JOHANNESBURG - The presiding judge in the Senzo Meyiwa trial says Gauteng Judge President Dunstan Mlambo is "perturbed" by the case and its pace.

Almost 10 years since the Bafana Bafana captain was killed and two years since the trial into his murder started, the case is yet to be completed amid regular delays.

On Monday, the court was ready for the cross-examination of the State’s ballistics expert – a year since he last took the stand but that could not proceed due to outstanding transcripts from his testimony.

Five men are standing trial for Meyiwa’s 2014 murder at his girlfriend’s house in Vosloourus.

At several moments in the Meyiwa trial, especially when delays are being experienced, Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng has openly spoken about his conversations with Gauteng Judge President Mlambo about the case and its pace.

"He thinks I am enjoying this case," said the presiding judge in Pretoria High Coutrt.

Mokgoatlheng was brought in from retirement last year when the previous presiding Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela fell ill and the trial had to start afresh.

He repeatedly mentioned how Mlambo had given him just two years from last year to get to the bottom of who murdered Senzo Meyiwa.

"He wants this case to finish and be finalised – because this case affects some persons and they want to know how it finishes. Now we come back, the record is missing, we want to listen to it."

Mokgoatlheng asked seasoned ballistics expert Lieutenant Colonel Chris Mangena if he has ever experienced missing records from a transcript in his 30-year career – to which Mangena replied no.

The judge said he too, in his 50-year career, has never seen such.

The matter resumes on Tuesday.