Witness F withdraws urgent court bid, set to resume testimony at Madlanga Commission

By Johnathan Paoli

Witness F has withdrawn his urgent application in the North Gauteng High Court, seeking to block his appearance before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, clearing the way for him to return to the witness stand on Monday.

The partially in-camera witness had approached the High Court in a bid to interdict the Commission from compelling his testimony and from displaying WhatsApp exchanges extracted from his cellphone.

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Through his legal representatives, Witness F argued that the use of the messages and his continued testimony could infringe on his constitutional right against self-incrimination.

The urgent application was set down to be heard this week, just days before his scheduled second appearance before the Commission.

However, the court challenge was abandoned after the Commission proceeded with his testimony last week and began presenting the WhatsApp