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TREAT SIPHO BAIL WITH DUE URGENCY - COURT

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MANZINI – “There must be an end to this matter.” These were the exact words used by Manzini Principal Magistrate David Khumalo during murder suspect Sipho Shongwe’s extradition matter, which was postponed yesterday.


The matter was postponed to tomorrow because Macebo Nxumalo, who is representing the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), was reported to be sick.
However, after announcing the postponement of the matter, the principal magistrate said he would not allow further postponement of the matter as he wants it to be concluded as soon as possible.


“It is common cause that a bail application is an urgent matter and we should treat it with the urgency it deserves,” the principal magistrate said.


He added that if the matter could be postponed further, it would be against justice. It is worth noting that this was not the first time the matter was postponed as it happened when Shongwe fell sick while the matter was ongoing and same took place later on as his lawyer fell sick and could not come to court.


Principal Magistrate Khumalo  said the festive season was approaching and he would like to conclude the matter before lawyers close for the holidays and before judicial officers, including himself go on leave.


Prosecution


The principal magistrate noted that prosecution was not ready for the matter as it did not file its heads on Monday.
As a result, he said the court would not allow a long postponement of the matter.


He said the prosecution should file its heads by end of business today. However, he said if this was not possible, it should file  first thing tomorrow morning so that Shongwe’s legal team could go through it before the matter goes to court on the same day.


Tomorrow, the matter will go for arguments as Shongwe has once against raised a point of law following the developments which took place at the High Court of Eswatini, which admitted him to bail and the Supreme Court of Eswatini which declined the DPP’s prayer for stay of execution of the order issued by Justice Sipho Nkosi.

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