/ 2 March 2007

Motata not yet back at work

A Pretoria High Court judge arrested on drunken-driving charges has not returned to work, 702 Talk Radio reported on Friday.

Nkola Motata took a leave of absence over February after being charged with driving under the influence of alcohol last month.

He crashed his car into a garden wall in Hurlingham in northern Johannesburg.

When 702 Eyewitness News contacted Motata’s chambers on Thursday at the Pretoria High Court, the judge was not available.

A secretary said he had not returned to work from his leave of absence, adding it is unclear when he would report back for duty.

The office of Transvaal Judge President Bernard Ngoepe also could not clarify when exactly Motata would be donning his judge’s robe again. — Sapa