Sunday Standard editor Outsa Mokone and The Telegraph editor Spencer Mogapi are to appear before Regional magistrate Lot Moroka today (Tuesday) to show cause why they should not be held liable for violating the sub judice rule. This follows a series of articles that the defence lawyer in the Nchindo criminal case, Parks Tafa, claims prejudices his case.
The son of the late Louis Nchindo, Garvas Nchindo, and Joseph Matome face a total of ten charges. The two were served with the new charge sheet on Monday when they appeared before Moroka to set trial dates. Among others, the duo is accused of fraudulently obtaining a piece of state land through their company, Tourism Development Consortium (TDC).
The order by Moroka came after Tafa, a Senior Partner at Collins Newman & Company, raised complaints about the reports, which the two weeklies had been carrying. Tafa claims the stories were centered on what could be evidence related to the charges their clients are facing.
After Tafa had made his submission, Chief Prosecution Counsel, Kgositsile Ngakayagae, told the Court that they do not oppose the application as they do not intend to stand in the way of those who feel that they have somehow been aggrieved during the proceedings.
“In the circumstances, we will be available to advise the court but we will not be active participants in the orders that our colleagues seek,” stated Ngaakagae.
The accused persons have been reduced to two after the tragic death of Louis Nchindo and the withdrawal of charges against Jacob Sesinyi.
The lawyer acting for the two weeklies, Dick Bayford, has indicated that he shall defend the charges against the two newspapers.
