During last week’s court appearance, Muzikaye Malephane told Magistrate John Baloyi that he would need Legal Aid representation. Malephane has now opted for private representation.
Muzikayise Malephane, aged 31, appears in the Roodepoort Magistrates Court for the murder of Tshegofatso Pule. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/EWN.
ROODEPOORT – Members of the public on Wednesday accused the man arrested for the murder of Tshegofatso Pule of trying to delay the legal process around his case.
Muzikayise Malephane made a brief appearance at the Roodepoort Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning in connection with the 28-year-old’s murder.
Malephane is accused of killing Pule and hanging her body from a tree on the West Rand earlier this month. She was eight-months pregnant at the time.
#TshegofatsoPule Members of the EFF and the ANC Women’s league demonstrating outside the Roodepoort Magistrates court where Muzikayise Malephane will make his second appearance. KM pic.twitter.com/i87MjkHW1N
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) June 24, 2020
During last week’s court appearance, Malephane told Magistrate John Baloyi that he would need Legal Aid representation.
However, the Legal Aid lawyer told the court on Wednesday that she would be withdrawing from the case as Malephane had opted for private representation.
Palesa Ndangala, a community activist who knew Pule, claimed the court was too lenient on Malephane.
“The court is treating Muzikayise as if he is the victim here. Tshegofatso was the victim of the crime,” she said.
Malephane told the court that his lawyer would only be available from Thursday.
Magistrate Baloyi postponed the matter to July and the accused will continue to be held at the Krugersdorp Correctional Services.
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