CJ REPORTS DEATH THREATS TO COPS

People on social media and international organisations have called for the release of Bheki Makhubu and Thulani Maseko.

MBABANE – Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi says he is receiving death threats from unknown people.
He has since reported the matter to the police.

His cellphone number has been posted on a social networking site where people are urged to call or send short messages to him demanding the release of The Nation Magazine Editor Bheki Makhubu and Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko.

It is alleged that the Chief Justice, who is also the Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), has been receiving anonymous calls threatening him with death. Some of the people who call and threatened the Chief Justice with death are said to be using South African numbers. The Chief Justice’s phone is reported to have been inundated with calls and SMSes (short messages) from anonymous people who are threatening him with death.

Over the past weekend the Chief Justice reported the matter to the Mbabane police who are now investigating. Police Deputy Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent Khulani Mamba confirmed the matter.

“Yes the Chief Justice has reported that he is receiving calls and short messages threatening him with death and we have instituted investigations to bring those behind that before the law. We frown upon such acts as no one has a right to threaten anyone with death and we take this seriously,” Mamba said.

On the social network site where the Chief Justice cellphone number has been posted, there is also that of Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Sibusiso Shongwe. In the page people are also urged to send messages to the two calling for the release of Makhubu and Maseko.

Ever since their arrest there has been an outcry from the local and the international community. They are calling for the immediate release of the two. Some of the organisations and institution who raised concern on the arrest of Makhubu and Maseko are the American Embassy, European Union (EU) and the International Commission for Jurists (ICJ).
The death threats and the outcry come after the Chief Justice issued warrants of arrest against Makhubu and Maseko for alleged contempt of court.

This was after the duo wrote articles in the monthly magazine where they were questioning and analysing circumstance behind the arrest of Chief Government Motor Vehicle Inspector Bhantshana Vincent Gwebu.
The Chief Justice issued a warrant of arrest against Gwebu after he nabbed a driver of Judge Esther Ota, allegedly abusing a government vehicle next to Sifundzani School in Mbabane.

Makhubu and Maseko were, however, later released from custody after High Court Judge Mumcy Dlamini set aside the warrant of apprehension that was issued by the Chief Justice. They were released after spending 20 days at the Sidwashini Correctional facility. The State however noted an appeal against the judgment setting aside the warrant of arrest.

Hardly two days after they were released from custody, newly-appointed Judge Mpendulo Simelane issued fresh warrants of their arrest.
This was after they did not show up in court after they left before their matter was called allegedly on the advice of their attorneys. Their lawyers, Advocate Lucas Maziya and Mandla Mkhwanazi contended that their clients were not expected to be in court as the warrant of their apprehension was set aside by Judge Dlamini. They further contended that by virtue of the warrants being set aside the charges that had preferred against the duo fell away.

Judge Simelane could hear none of their arguments as he continued to issue the warrants and the two were subsequently rearrested. An appeal was also noted by their lawyers but members of the Royal Swaziland Police proceeded to execute the warrant of arrest against them. Makhubu and Maseko are currently kept at Sidwashini Correctional facility after Judge Simelane remanded them in custody. On Monday, they had come to court seeking recusal of Judge Simelane from the matter. 

They argued that they have reasonable apprehension that the judge might be biased against them. Maseko argued that one of his reasons he wanted Judge Simelane to recuse himself from the matter was the statement he (Maseko) made in court.
During one of the accused’s appearance, Maseko lost his temper and told Judge Simelane to start behaving like a judge if he wanted to be treated like one. He further told the judge to stop treating them like children.

Makhubu and Maseko are expected back in court on Tuesday for the resumption of the main trial (contempt of court charges).
A pretrial was conducted last Friday and the accused indicated that they would plead not guilty to the two charges of contempt preferred against them. Some of their witnesses who they intend to call during the trial are Judge Simelane who is expected to preside over the matter and the Chief Justice.

The State will be parading three witnesses and they are Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court Banele Ngcamphalala, Registrar of Companies Msebe Malinga and Detective Bongani Maziya a police officer based at the Mbabane Police Station.

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