The police officer at the centre of a dispute over the arrest of one of the accused in the trial involving alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala is expected to continue giving evidence on Monday.
Captain Pimi Sekgobela will return to the witness stand for a sixth day as the Johannesburg High Court resumes the trial-within-a-trial examining the circumstances surrounding the arrest of accused number one, Musa Kekana.
The proceedings are focused on whether evidence obtained during the arrest was lawfully secured and whether it should be admitted in the main trial. Matlala and four co-accused face several charges, including conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder.
SAPS Standing Order Takes Centre Stage In Court Proceedings
Court proceedings were adjourned on Friday after Judge Carrim Moosa instructed counsel for accused number three, Advocate Annelene van den Heever, to produce a South African Police Service (SAPS) standing order referenced during her cross-examination of Sekgobela.
Van den Heever argued that the standing order outlines the procedures police officers must follow when managing a crime scene. She questioned Sekgobela on whether he had complied with its provisions, including maintaining a detailed register of everyone entering and leaving the scene.
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Sekgobela told the court that he was not aware of the instruction.
When asked to provide the document, Van den Heever was unable to do so, despite relying on it as a key part of her questioning.
Judge Moosa subsequently halted proceedings, ruling that any legal authority relied upon by counsel must be produced immediately before the court.
State Maintains Arrest And Evidence Collection Were Lawful
Once Sekgobela concludes his evidence, another member of the arrest team is expected to testify.
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The witness is expected to corroborate Sekgobela’s account of the events surrounding Kekana’s arrest.
The State has rejected claims that Kekana was assaulted or tortured. Prosecutors maintain that the search, arrest and seizure of evidence — including firearms allegedly linked to the murder of Armand Swart and several other cases — were conducted lawfully.
