Sick note sidestep of trial
Gwala's non-appearance adds to the never-ending list of postponements – more than 20 - since charges of rhino horn dealing and the linked attempted murder of a policeman in 2014 first brought him before the courts in 2016
MASTER of delay tactics, alleged rhino poaching syndicate kingpin Dumisani Gwala called in sick ahead of Wednesday’s scheduled resumption of his trial at the Mtubatuba Magistrate’s Court.
Gwala’s non-appearance adds to the never-ending list of postponements – more than 20 – since charges of rhino horn dealing and the linked attempted murder of a policeman in 2014 first brought him before the courts in 2016.
Investigating officer, Hawks operative JP Van Zyl Roux, who reportedly uncovered the syndicate operating from Manguzi for buyers based in China and Vietnam and arranged a sting operation which led to the arrest, was due to be cross examined on behalf of the state. Among other court delays, proceedings have been put on hold after Gwala changed his legal representation nine times.
The latest deferment left ‘Saving the Wild’ activist Jamie Joseph fuming.
She has been waging a relentless media campaign she hopes will eventually result in justice being served.
‘Someone needs to be held accountable,’ she said on Wednesday.
She called on court officials to ask investigators to establish the validity of the illness excuse.
‘They (Gwala’s defence) clearly have no intention of finishing this trial,’ said Joseph.
‘As for costs to witnesses, this back and forth is clearly a strategy to financially bleed them until they give up.’
‘Somehow this must come to a conclusion, otherwise these syndicates will continue to make a mockery of the courts until there are no rhinos left to kill.
‘It’s been five years already and we are yet to see the cross examination of the first witness.’
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