Gemballa accused threatens prosecutors

Despite one accused in the Uwe Gemballa murder case escaping from court, security was so lax that his alleged accomplices could chat to their family, receive parcels and even threaten prosecutors.

Johannesburg - Just three days after Kagiso Ledwaba brazenly launched an armed escaped from the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court, his co-accused were allowed to wander around their courtroom and accept parcels from relatives.

Meanwhile, one of the remaining accused allegedly threatened the lives of the prosecution and investigation teams probing the trio’s kidnapping and murder of German supercar specialist Uwe Gemballa.

Ledwaba, Thabo Mohapi and Garland Holworthy were found guilty of Gemballa’s murder late last year, and sentencing was expected to start on Thursday.

However, Ledwaba was appearing on another armed robbery matter on Monday when he secured a firearm and the key to his leg shackles.

Despite the gross breach of security on Monday, Mohapi wandered around the court on Thursday, talking to relatives and court security, while Holworthy was seen accepting a pile of papers from a relative.

And before proceedings, court officials confirmed that Mohapi had entered the court and told the prosecutors and investigating officers: “I’m coming after all of you people because you made this personal.”

This wasn’t the first time Mohapi’s aggressive tendencies had surfaced, as he had threatened on numerous occasions to attack journalists from The Star covering his case.

While the lawyer for Holworthy and Ledwaba, JP Marais, had tried to secure a postponement of the sentencing, Judge George Maluleke insisted the proceedings continue.

Mohapi was brought to the stand first as a witness in mitigation of his sentence. He told the court he had completed anger management training while in prison.

But during cross-examination, prosecutor Riegal du Toit said the prison could not give Mohapi a certificate of completion, considering his aggressive outburst that morning.

Mohapi continued to deny he and his co-accused had been responsible for the killing, and said he wanted to apologise to the Gemballa family that their relative had travelled all the way to South Africa just to be murdered.

“The killers of the late Mr Gemballa must be brought to book and face justice,” he said.

As Judge Maluleke was about to postpone to Friday morning, Mohapi interrupted the proceedings to say he and Holworthy were being treated “like pigs” since Ledwaba’s escape.

He said they should not be punished for their co-accused’s escape.

Judge Maluleke appeared sympathetic to their plight, and asked the prosecution to sort out the issue with correctional services staff in court.

shain.germaner@inl.co.za

@ShainGermaner

The Star