Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
06 April 2023
The alleged serial rapist and murderer, Themba Prince Shongwe from eMbalenhle appeared before the Secunda magistrate court on Tuesday, 05 April on his ongoing trial for the murder of young girls in Ext 16 and 17 between the years 2016 and 2018
Sargent Malapela has been on the testifying stand since September 2022.
When the trial resumed this year, state prosecutor Tracy Kaan asked for a postponement in order to retrieve Sgt Malapelas testimonial transcripts as it had been a long time since he last testified to refresh his memory.
The court therefore granted the postponement until the 5th of April.
The case resumed on Tuesday 5th where it was further postponed again due to the alleged bad transcripts which they received from the Secunda Magistrate transcriber.
Prosecutor Kaan argued that the transcripts were transcribed incorrectly and the evidence transcribed also had wrong seal numbers and there is also a portion missing from what was testified by Malapela in court.
Kaan further said she was prepared to share her scribed notes with the defence, the court and the witness Sgt Malapela but defence lawyer Advocate Zwane argued that the witness had been relying on his own scribed notes during his testimonials therefore he sees no need for notes to be transcribed for the witness.
Due to time constraints the trial was postponed to resume on the 17th of April 202
