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The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has informed the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court that it is planning to subpoena Angelo Agrizzi’s doctor to determine if the former Bosasa Chief Operating Officer can stand trial or not.

This comes after Agrizzi missed several court appearances with co-accused, former African National Congress Member of Parliament, Vincent Smith.

Smith is charged with corruption for the alleged gratifications he received from Bosasa in the form of security upgrades to his Gauteng home as well as cash transferred into his personal bank account.

In addition, he is charged with fraud for failing to disclose to parliament’s register of members’ interests, the gratifications received from Bosasa.

Spokesperson for the Investigating Directorate, Sindisiwe Seboka, says they need to find out if Agrizzi is fit to stand trial.

“On 8 July 2021, the state applied for the separation of trials, which the court granted. This was motivated by the infringement of Smith’s rights to a speedy trial, which was affected by Mr. Angelo Agrizzi’s absence in court due to ill health. Today, the Investigating Directorate has informed the court of its plans to subpoena Angelo Agrizzi’s doctor in order to make a determination on whether Agrizzi can stand trial or not.”

Agrizzi fails to appear in court:

Smith will know by 2 November what the final indictment against him is going to look like.

He appeared briefly at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court.

Seboka says Smith was initially charged together with Angelo Agrizzi, but the trials were separated because of Agrizzi’s ill health.

“The matter of former Parliamentarian Vincent Smith has been set down for 2 November 2021. The postponement is due to Smith appointing new lawyers as well as for the state to disclose the final indictment. Smith stands accused in his personal capacity as well as representative capacity for his company Euroblitz 48 Pty Ltd.”

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City Power says non-payment and illegal connections within the City of Johannesburg region are costing the power utility millions of rand monthly.

It says COVID-19 has worsened the situation as more people are working from home and this has increased power consumption.

City Power Spokesperson Isaac Mangena has urged residents to pay for services and refrain from making illegal connections.

Mangena says the city has many informal settlements that are not electrified and residents make illegal connections from the nearest power stations, causing power outages.

“The real cost is on the residents, especially now during the COVID-19 when most people are actually working from home. There is a lot of inconvenience, the overloading and outages that come after because of these. We’ve got small businesses that are actually suffering. Most of them are closing because electricity is not coming to them due to these illegal connections that are happening – the damage of infrastructure and by-passing of meters,” says Mangena.

VIDEO: City Power to cut illegal electricity connections in Ennerdale, Johannesburg

 

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Students at the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape are calling for justice to be urgently served in Nosicelo Mtebeni’s murder case. The man accused of Mtebeni’s murder Alutha Pasile appeared in the East London Magistrate’s Court today.

He has been in custody since last month after abandoning his bail application. Mtebeni was brutally killed last month and some of her body parts were dismembered and put in a suitcase.

During the court proceedings Aluta Pasile indicated that he still does not want to apply for bail.

He also did not want a legal representation.

Meanwhile, students braved a chilly weather chatting and demanding justice for Nosicelo.

Student Representative Council member, Siphokazi Mbalo says they are disappointed with the justice system for postponing the case again.

“I’m very disappointed that the case has been postponed. I feel like the justice system thinks we will lose momentum on fighting for justice for Nosicelo because even the perpetrator abandoned his bail and does not want representation. So, we want him to be sentenced.”

Students demonstrate outside court: 

Social Development MEC,  Siphokazi Mani Lusithi was also part of the the demonstration.

“Part of justice is a speedy trial. We are disappointed for Nosicelo and her family and unfortunately, this is not common in cases of this nature,” says Lusithi.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says it is building a strong case against the accused.

“We are continuing with the case building an even stronger case so that the prosecution goes on strongly during trial. We believe we have got a good case and building more evidence,” says the spokesperson for NPA in the province is Anelisa Ngcakani.

Alutha Pasile will again appear in court on 9 November.

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