Johnathan Paoli
The bail application of former SAPS Special Task Force member Matipandile Sotheni, accused of murdering Madlanga Commission whistle-blower Marius “Vlam” van der Merwe, has been postponed after the matter was transferred to the regional court.
Sotheni appeared briefly in the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on Friday, where the state said the bail application could not proceed because of a scheduling miscommunication.
“We found that there must have been a miscommunication between ourselves, that is me, the prosecutor, with the defence and the resident prosecutor and the magistrate. The magistrate had already put another matter on the roll today. That is therefore why we cannot proceed with the bail application today. But we did go to her in chambers,” the prosecutor said.
The state also applied for the matter to be transferred to the regional court, saying it was the appropriate forum for the bail proceedings.
Sotheni is expected to
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