- Family members of the deceased in the murder trial of two foreigners, alleged to be illegal in South Africa, were hysterical in court.
- The drama started regarding the mix-up of legal representation for one of the accused.
- Ashan Fraz Cheema and Raza Ali are accused of murdering and dismembering Mohlale Precious Magabane on 23 December 2018.
There was plenty of drama in the Polokwane High Court, Limpopo, on Monday when family members of a woman killed and dismembered, allegedly by two illegal foreigners, were hysterical during court proceedings.
The drama started when Judge-President Ephraim Makgoba postponed the trial to next month because there was a mix-up of legal representation for one of the accused.
Pakistanis Ashan Fraz Cheema and Raza Ali - both found to be in the country illegally - are accused of murdering and dismembering Mohlale Precious Magabane on 23 December 2018.
Magabane, who was a teacher at Kabishi Primary School at Mashamothane village, in Limpopo, was at the time in a relationship with Cheema.
The two accused are alleged to have confronted Magabane at her home, where she was stabbed and dismembered. Her body parts were found in different places.
In court on Monday, two lawyers - from different legal firms - arrived to represent Ali.
The other accused, Cheema, did not have a lawyer.
The court proceedings were delayed for several hours for consultations in the judge president's chambers.
It was when the case had to be postponed that family members of the deceased were hysterical, banging on benches, hurling insults and accusing the judge president of "taking bribes".
The family, who were supported by some community members, were infuriated by the numerous postponements of the case.
However, calm was restored and the trial was postponed to 27 June to allow for time for the legal representation of the accused to be addressed.
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