There was high drama in court today when African National Congress (ANC) Member of Parliament Sibusiso Kula had a warrant of arrest issued by the Orkney Magistrates Court, North West for arriving late in court to face a murder charge.
Kula’s lawyer Gcina Dlanjwa also arrived in court minutes after Kula’s case was postponed and a warrant already issued.
An irate Dlanjwa expressed his displeasure with the court’s inability to wait for him. Kula was expected to lodge an application forcing the state to speed up the case without any further delays.
“Just when we entered court we heard that the magistrate started exactly at 9 am when we had agreed on the 17th of April that the matter is to be postponed for me to submit my application and I also gave them the heads up as to what they should be looking for in the application that we are going to deal with today,” Dlanjwa said.
Dlanjwa added that the investigation into the case was in disarray, and that he has already informed the prosecution of his intention to apply to have the case struck off the court roll.
“They (the court) have committed serious irregularities which were pointed out by the Judge during the appeal stage. 9:10 when I entered the court the case was already postponed and by the way, Mr. Kula was issued with a warrant of arrest because he came five minutes after nine, it’s all malice,” he said.
Kula was arrested in January for allegedly killing his wife Jennifer Kula whose lifeless body was found with multiple stab wounds at their home in Kanana township.
He was denied bail and remained in police custody for three months until he was released in April on a R50 000 bail.
The case was postponed again to May 10 and Dlanjwa had to remain behind after the postponement to speak with the magistrate after which Kula’s warrant of arrest was withdrawn.
