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Inside a court.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has denied casting aspersions on the integrity of the judges in the Free State Division of the High Court.
A letter purportedly from the Free State Director of Public Prosecution to Deputy Judge President Martha Mbhele requested a judge from outside the province to preside over the R255 million asbestos trial that is due to start in April next year.
The case involves 18 accused including companies.
Former Free State Premier Ace Magashule, businessman Edwin Sodi and Magashule’s then-PA Moroadi Cholota are among the accused.
Mbhele has expressed concern in her response to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, stating that the letter from the Free State NPA casts serious aspersions on the integrity of the High Court Bench.
Mbhele goes on to say, “I understand your letter to mean the whole of the Free State High Court bench is incompetent, contaminated and therefore, disqualified to handle this matter.”
Judge Mbhele has labelled that as insulting and derogatory.
NPA Spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga has told SABC News that the NPA is not at liberty to discuss formal engagements with the judiciary in the media.
