Magistrate not available for hoax-email case

The fraud trial of former spy boss Billy Masetlha and his two co-accused was postponed in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Thursday.

The matter was set down for November 6 for further trial as the presiding magistrate, Dawie Jacobs, was not available.

Masetlha, former National Intelligence Agency manager for electronic surveillance Funokwakhe Madlala and IT expert Muziwendoda Kunene face fraud charges.

These relate to hoax emails implicating senior African National Congress members in a conspiracy against party president Jacob Zuma.

Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils had taken the stand during their last appearance and was to testify again on Thursday, but was not at court.

In his previous testimony, Kasrils had described Masetlha as someone he was “wary of”.—Sapa