CRIMINALS BROUGHT US HERE - THULANI

MBABANE - Incarcerated Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko yesterday told the court that the people who brought them to court are the ones who are criminals and are supposed to be in court.

Maseko did not mention anyone specifically.

This was after Judge Mpendulo Simelane had read the charge sheet and further enquired how he was going to plead.  
Maseko made these statements during the resumption of their contempt of court case yesterday.

Maseko along with The Nation Magazine Editor Bheki Makhubu are facing two charges of contempt of court which emanated from articles that appeared in the monthly magazine where they questioned the rationale behind the arrest of Chief Government Motor Vehicle Inspector Bhantshana Gwebu. The human rights lawyer, who yesterday came in court dressed in Zulu traditional attire complete with head gear, is represented by Senior Lawyer Mandla Mkhwanazi.

“I am pleading not guilty to the charge that has been preferred against me. in fact, the people who brought us to court today are the ones who are criminals and they should be here (in court),” Maseko said.
After entering the plea of not guilty which was also confirmed by his lawyer, Maseko remained calm throughout the proceedings.
His co-accused, Bheki Makhubu, yesterday also pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him by Judge Simelane.

Maseko’s lawyer yesterday informed the court that the matter is lis pendens, which means it is pending in another court (Court of Appeal).
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Nkosinathi Maseko informed the court the lis pendens was only in regard to the judgment that was issued on March 6, 2014.

“This trial is going to confine itself on the indictment of March 28, 2014. The judgment by Judge Mumcy Dlamini dealt with the indictment that was issued on March 17,” the DPP said.
The State filed an appeal after Judge Dlamini set aside the warrants of arrest which were issued by Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi.  
The State yesterday paraded two witnesses and they were Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court Banele Ngcamphalala and acting Registrar of Companies Msebe Malinga.

Ngcamphalala outlined to the court how the articles complained about were allegedly contemptuous while Malinga informed the court how Swaziland Independent Publishers was registered with his office and further told the court who were its directors.
The last witness to be paraded by the Crown was Constable Detective Bongani Maziya from the Mbabane Police Station.

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