The case against five people accused of stealing Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s jewellery was postponed in the Orlando Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
The state prosecutor told magistrate Mohammed Jooma that four of the accused — relatives of the struggle stalwart — wanted the case postponed so that they could appoint an attorney.
The first accused, Mbuso Vhuthela, was already represented by Owen Khumalo, who surprised the court last month by announcing his withdrawal from representing the rest of the accused.
Paul Githuka (53), his wife Nolwazi (44), daughter Jerry (19) and son Mpumelelo (22) wanted a six-week postponement.
Khumalo said his client (Vhuthela) would be inconvenienced by the postponement.
The Githukas told the magistrate they had been advised that appointing an attorney would take six weeks as he would need time to familiarise himself with the case.
Jooma disagreed with the accused.
”It doesn’t work like that. You appoint an attorney first … you can’t give an attorney six weeks. As far as I’m concerned six weeks is too much,” said Jooma.
The state requested the case to be postponed to July 17.
Jooma said the accused should be given three weeks to find an attorney, and postponed the case to July 26.
Jooma showed his dissatisfaction with the delays by walking out of the courtroom on one occasion last month.
The accused left the court separately after their brief appearance on Wednesday.
The Githuka family walked together while Vhuthela followed and did not speak to them.
The five are accused of stealing jewellery worth R4-million from Madikizela-Mandela’s plush home in Orlando West, Soweto.
Madikizela-Mandela returned from the United States in February to discover that two safes at her home had been stolen and a third tampered with.
The accused were out on bail, which has been extended. They have to report to Orlando police station every day. — Sapa