By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng, who is presiding over the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, has apologised and withdrawn comments he made about black lawyers in court.
On Wednesday, he slammed Thulani Mngomezulu for his failure to appear in court and alert the court about his absence beforehand. Mngomezulu is representing the first accused Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya.
“Is this how lawyers, or maybe I should just tell the truth is this how black lawyers behave, some of them maybe I should qualify that”, said Mokgoatlheng.
However, before proceedings started today, Mokgoatlheng acknowledged his comments were ill-advised.
“I admit that my comments could be interpreted as ill-advised, offensive and ill-considered. And if that’s the perception of the accused and their representatives and persons outside , I want to state that I withdraw the comments which I made”.
The Black Lawyers Association (BLA) meanwhile wants a meeting with Mokgoatlheng to understand why he made such comments against black lawyers.
The former Bafana Bafana captain was shot and killed in Vosloorus in 2014.
Mngomezulu also penned a letter of apology to the court for his failure to report his absence on Wednesday.
Proceedings continues with the state calling the next witness, Chupye Christopher Matlou, who works as an investigator for the Road Traffic Management Corporation.