TOP SA ADVOCATES FOR SIPHO TRIAL

MBABANE - It will be a battle of top South African advocates during the trial of murder suspect Sipho Shongwe.

While Shongwe has hired Laurence Hodes, the Crown has engaged Michael Hellens - Senior Counsel (SC) who represented former South Africa President Jacob Zuma in his corruption trial.

The stage for the two advocates to sweat it out has been set for May 28, 2019 at the High Court of the Kingdom of Eswatini before Judge Mbutfo Mamba.
Advocate Hellens, who is also one of the prominent advocates in the Republic of South Africa has been roped in to assist the Crown to ensure that Shongwe remains behind bars.

He also represented Zuma’s son Duduzane in his culpable homicide trial.
Zuma senior had been charged with corruption‚ racketeering and tax evasion, relating to his allegedly corrupt dealings with his former financial advisor Schabir Shaik and French arms company, Thint.

Hellens also represented the Guptas.

This was in the case in which Gupta-linked companies and individuals were  seeking to stop a new preservation order on properties worth about R250 million.
The application was brought by Oakbay Investments (Pty) Ltd, Aerohaven (Pty) Ltd, Ashu Chawla, Oakbay acting Chief Executive Officer Ronica Ragavan and former Director Varun Gupta, Westdawn Investments (Pty) Ltd and Annex Distribution (Pty) Ltd.

Meanwhile, Shongwe is also pulling all strings to ensure that he is exonerated from the murder charge as he has engaged the services of Advocate Hodes.
Hodes has handled a number of high profile cases, which include that of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Commander- in- Chief, Julius Malema who was facing charges of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money-laundering as a result of a R52 million contract with the Limpopo Roads and Transport department.
Hodes is the same man who managed to drill a myriad of holes into the State’s (South Africa) case against Glenn Agliotti, proving the saying: ‘It’s not about what you know; it’s about what you can prove.’

Agliotti was facing two counts of conspiracy to commit murder, one of attempted murder and a murder charge. Two of these charges related to mining magnate Brett Kebble’s death. All four charges were discharged.

Mandela

The advocate also represented ANC Buffalo City Metro regional secretary Phumlani Mkolo who charged in connection with Mandela memorial fraud.
In the above matter, the State alleged R5.985-million was paid by Buffalo City Metro to local taxi boss Mzwandile Sokwali’s company Victory Ticket 750cc to ferry mourners to memorial services after Nelson Mandela’s death in December 2013.

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