ZOLISWA WITNESS FAILS TO SHOW

The failure of the key state witness, Phindiswa Magxala, to appear in the Khayelitsha Regional Court on Friday has led to another postponement of the trial of the nine men accused of killing lesbian teenager Zoliswa Nkonyane.

Presiding Magistrate Watten announced the postponement, saying that Magxala was not able be in court due to medical reasons. The trial will now restart on Thursday 16 April.

“…a copy of a medical certificate was handed over to me by the prosecutor and after examining it, I ruled on the postponement. Therefore the state cannot proceed calling other witnesses,” she said.

Magxala previously testified in the trial in December last year during which she described the brutal murder of her friend, 19 year old Nkonyane, who was beaten with a brick and then stabbed to death in February 2006.

According to Cape Town based Triangle Project this was the 23rd postponement in the trial, but the first requested by the prosecution.

Triangle Project said in a statement that it was “shocked by the nine co-accused’s arrogance, indifference and lack of remorse for their actions” in court.

The men each face three charges; one of murder and two of attempted murder. They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges. They remain in custody and will appear in court again when the trial resumes.