SIPHO TRIAL: JUDGE RECUSES HIMSELF

MBABANE – “No one suggested that I should recuse myself from the matter.”

These were some of the comments made by Judge Mbutfo Mamba when he recused himself from hearing the matter of murder accused Sipho Shongwe yesterday. Among his reasons to recuse himself from the matter, Judge Mamba said some of his closest relatives were former office bearers of Mbabane Swallows Football Club, while others were mere supporters of the team. He mentioned Bongani ‘Under Control’ Mamba, whom he described as an active and vocal former Public Relations Officer of the team. “The decision to do so has been reached independently by me and being fully aware of my duties to sit and hear cases before me in accordance with the oath of my office,” added Judge Mamba.

Bombshell

The judge dropped the bombshell yesterday when the trial was expected to enter its third day. When recusing himself, Judge Mamba pointed out that Shongwe was charged with murder, it being alleged that on or about January 14, 2018, near Ezulwini Galp Filling Station, acting in furtherance of a shared purpose, with other persons named in the indictment, he (allegedly) unlawfully killed Victor Gamedze. “The composite summary of evidence gives little information on the motive for the commission of the offence. The very scant evidence that has been led thus far, however, would seem to shed some light in this regard. I cannot and should not make any factual finding on this aspect of this case at this stage of the proceedings,” said Judge Mamba.

He said the name of Mbabane Swallows Football Club, of which the deceased (Gamedze) was a director, featured prominently in the evidence. The Judge narrated that when he joined the office of the Director Of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the early 1980s, his boss was an ardent follower of Manzini Wanderers Football Club, while his deputy was an active fanatic of Mbabane Swallows, and his colleague and office mate was a fervent follower of Mbabane Highlanders. He stated that almost every Monday, the talk or conversation among these three was centred around football, matches that had been played over the past weekend.

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